Brahms Chamber Works (orchestrated)
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Johannes Brahms
Label: Cala
Magazine Review Date: 3/1993
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 62
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CACD1006
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Piano Quartet No. 1 |
Johannes Brahms, Composer
Geoffrey Simon, Conductor Johannes Brahms, Composer London Symphony Orchestra |
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 1 |
Johannes Brahms, Composer
Geoffrey Simon, Conductor James Campbell, Clarinet Johannes Brahms, Composer London Symphony Orchestra |
Composer or Director: Johannes Brahms
Label: Cala
Magazine Review Date: 3/1993
Media Format: Cassette
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CAMC1006
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Piano Quartet No. 1 |
Johannes Brahms, Composer
Geoffrey Simon, Conductor Johannes Brahms, Composer London Symphony Orchestra |
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 1 |
Johannes Brahms, Composer
Geoffrey Simon, Conductor James Campbell, Clarinet Johannes Brahms, Composer London Symphony Orchestra |
Author: Arnold Whittall
It's not long since the LSO recorded the piece under Neeme Jarvi (Chandos, 2/91) and they do a no less professional job for Geoffrey Simon. Until the finale, nevertheless, I found Simon's reading a bit short of rhythmic bite. The long first movement, in particular, flows along in a rather uneventful fashion, and JS's 1991 recommendation of Michael Tilson Thomas's BRSO performance (CBS) as front runner can probably still stand.
Simon's disc also contains the first recording of Luciano Berio's 1986 orchestration of Brahms's First Clarinet Sonata. I find this a far more doubtful enterprise than the Schoenberg, probably because the Op. 25 Quartet is symphonic chamber music in the grand manner, whereas the sonata is pure chamber music, and in no way a concerto in disguise. Berio's orchestration deprives the piano part of its essential rhythmic incisiveness, and deprives the whole work of that crucial polarity—clarinet, piano—that characterizes the original.
The recording doesn't help by wrapping the orchestra around the excellent soloist. In addition, the sound has an aura of artificial resonance without that last degree of definition that would serve the orchestral textures, especially those of the Schoenberg most effectively.'
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
SubscribeGramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.