Koussevitzky Conducts Brahms

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Serge Koussevitzky

2. Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Serge Koussevitzky

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
More often then not, Serge Koussevitsky's manipulations of tempo and phrasing in his 1938 Brahms Fourth draw more attention to himself than the composer. The finale, in particular, loses all sense of cumulative impact. Conversely, Koussy's 1944 Third boasts stylish, controlled playing that is no less sumptuous than the norm for this conductor. Among the 78 era's many persuasive Brahms Thirds, this one has always stood out, and may well be this conductor's finest recording. --Jed Distler

Tracks:

SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN F, OP. 90: Allegro con brio
SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN F, OP. 90: Andante
SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN F, OP. 90: Poco allegretto
SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN F, OP. 90: Allegro
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 98: Allegro non troppo
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 98: Andante moderato
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 98: Allegro giocoso - Poco meno presto
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 98: Allegro energico e passionato - Piu allegro

Amazon.com

More often then not, Serge Koussevitsky's manipulations of tempo and phrasing in his 1938 Brahms Fourth draw more attention to himself than the composer. The finale, in particular, loses all sense of cumulative impact. Conversely, Koussy's 1944 Third boasts stylish, controlled playing that is no less sumptuous than the norm for this conductor. Among the 78 era's many persuasive Brahms Thirds, this one has always stood out, and may well be this conductor's finest recording. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Faultless precision and sublime rendition!.......2006-02-10

By all accounts Koussevitzky was a flamboyant , egocentric and authoritarian baton; he originated in the first ages of the musical conduction where the tyrant archetype nestled anywhere. Under his domineering will, Boston Symphony reached that privileged status that still today detents, in spite of there is not point of comparing.

His Brahms possesses an austere approach, though it maintains that radiant aristocracy, expansive phrasing and expressive musculature. This idiosyncratic gaze allows us to dive into the minimum facets of this sumptuous and mistakenly sentimentally played This is an autumnal and meditative Opus but far from being a stylized and tearful work. And this legendary version is far to be self indulgent. The famous lyricism of the Third Movement never becomes a soap melodrama. In times of decadence, it is very common to use the score to project our own weakness and fears but such approach is bad perspective of Brahms. The last movement is loaded of resplendent struggle and visceral burden.

The Fourth is well played; with powerful intensity and immense display of mercurial passion. It has to be accounted this is by far the most difficult to play Symphony in Brahmsian repertoire. It demands not only an astonishing domain of the thematic material but the work has too many modulations and speed changes; you may easily to run aground in the first bars; and if this happens the subsequent result will be a soporiferous performance. Koussevitsky gets to confer a visible consistency and special strength without loss of expressiveness and stylistic audacity.

Go for these treasured performances. They are part of the musical legend.