Repertoire: The IDEAL Brahms Symphonies, Serenades, Variations and Overtures 

Thank you! The Walter/NY 2nd was a revelation to me. His Finale was so exciting, I leapt out of my chair! A performance for the ages.

Thanks, David, for the talk. Here is my list: Symph. 1 - Karajan (Tokyo 1988) Symph. 2 - Maazel/Cleveland Orch. Symph. 3 - Abbado/Berliner Philharmoniker Symph. 4 - Celibidache (Tokyo 1986) Haydn var. - Abbado/Berliner Philharmoniker Academic O - Klemperer Tragic O - Maazel/Cleveland Serenade 1 - Bernstein/NYPO Serenade 2 - Chailly

I have recently discovered your reviews and have been enjoying them very much. Thank you for introducing me to some of the work of Karel Ancerl. I just listened to his recording of Tragic Overture and was very pleased with it. I also listened to a recording I grew up with but haven't heard in many years - the old Toscanini recording with the NBC. I think the old man holds his own with Ancerl. It was an even more committed and gripping performance than I remembered, and the tragic drama never sagged. Of course the fidelity was not as good as the Ancerl recording, but it was nice hearing such fine performances of this work.

I just heard Wand/Chicago in the First Symphony-what an amazing, beautiful performance!

A kindred spirit in exploring different performances. Great music always more. to discover. I love the idea that you mention of discovering the music as if we've never heard it. How did the first audience respond? We don't know the key, the meter, the orchesteation. What surprises await each experience. How does the composer create momentum, phrase direction.? Masks, etc. and smart voting could lead to live concerts again. Regards from Santa Barbara.

I have a fond attachment to the Tragic Overture as I remember it was one of the early pieces I listened to when I was first delving into classical music as a kid - oh i could kick myself as I'm trying to remember the conductor - i could be wrong but maybe Horenstein - anyway it was one of those pieces that sold me on the whole genre - the music was so darn exciting (even the slow mysterious parts in their own way !) - and yet at the same time it had moments full of such warm lyricism and nobility that even as a kid did not fail to move my young soul

Symphony 1: Giulini with LA Phil (DG) Symphony 2: Dohnanyi (Teldec) Symphony 3: Klemperer (EMI) Symphony 4: Munch (RCA) Haydn Variations: I. Fischer (Channel Classics) Academic Festival Overture: Bernstein (Sony) Tragic Overture: Jochum (EMI) Serenade 1: Kertesz (Decca) Serenade 2: Mackerras (Telarc)

Just downloaded and listened to the Jochum Haydn and Elgar Variations. WOW! Merci!

That Stokowski #4 recording is fantastic!! I have long considered it my favorite. The first time I heard this I actually was frightened by some sections - like the end of the 1st movement- because Stokowski really hammers home the excitement and drama. What's interesting is that the late career Brahms 2nd that Stokowski recorded is also one of my favorites. He really knew what he was doing once he moved past the need to tinker with things.

Ha... I had a similar experience the first time I heard the Bruckner Third (my first ever Bruckner) when I was in music school. When the brass choirs played they soared up to the most impossibly high range, without shrill tone or bad intonation. I thought I’d discovered a whole new world of classical brass music. Then I realized I was playing it at 45 even though it was a 36 record.

OK, I'll play along. Some old faves, some sentimental choices, some new discoveries. 1. Cleveland/Szell. Picks me up by the scruff of the neck in bar one and doesn't let me down to the end. And places symphony in Beethoven lineage more than most. 2. Czech PO/Ančerl. Great winds, super exciting, especially slow movement. 3. Chicago/Reiner. My first Brahms symphony ever, and no reason to cast it aside. 4. Vienna PO/Kleiber. Unlike our genial host, I find Kleiber's thorough goings-over compelling and gripping. Serenade 1: London SO/Kértesz. Nothing not to love. Serenade No. 2: NYP/Bernstein. Great to hear our old wind friends (Baker, Drucker, Gomberg, et al.) from LB's Young People's Concerts in such prominent roles. Academic: NYP/Walter. A thriller. Tragic: Philharmonia/Klemperer. A block of granite that moves, crushing everything in its path. Haydn Variations: SWR Baden-Baden & Freiburg/Gielen. Just plain fun. Do I get to go on to the lightning round now?

Coincidentally, I bought the Jochum disc last week - for the Elgar primarily, but the Brahms is just as great and makes an ideal coupling. Indeed, the two sets of variations go so well together that I'm surprised they're not paired more often; as far as I can tell, there's only Jochum and Monteux who have done it.

Dorati’s recordings of 1 and 4 on Mercury with the LSO are well worth a listen if you like lean mean Brahms with some snarl and bite. There are some splendid contrabassoon low Cs in the first movement of no. 1.

Different conductors for each piece is really tough, but here goes: Symphony 1: Christoph Eschenbach, Houston Symphony Symphony 2: Max Fiedler, Berlin Philharmonic Symphony 3: Paavo Jarvi, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen Symphony 4: Whun Myung Chung, Czech Philharmonic Haydn Variations: Otto Klemperer, Philharmonia Academic Festival Overture: Dimitri Mitropoulos, New York Philharmonic Tragic Overture: Eugen Jochum, London Philharmonic Serenade 1: Charles Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra Serenade 2: Kurt Masur, Leipzig Gewandhaus (I would have gone with Mackerras here, too, but I wanted to play by the rules)

Dear Mr Hurwitz I enjoyed very much your thoughts on Brahms best orchestral recordings. As a matter of fact, I’m listening at this precise moment to Tragic Ouverture, with Karel Ančerl: astonishing! Don’t you have comments on Brahms choral works? I didn’t find any on my searches 😕 and I’d love to know which recordings are on your heart for Requiem, the wonderful Nänie and Alto Rhapsody! Many thanks to you, with great respect!

David and fellow listeners: Does anyone know the best way to obtain the Jochum Haydn Variations recording from this video on CD? On Amazon, I see that the Japanese import of the album is all that's available (complete with liner notes in Japanese, which are of little to no help to me, given that I don't know any Japanese). I also see that the album is in Volume 1 of Jochum's Complete Deutsche Grammophon Recordings box set, which I am very interested in purchasing given David's general bullishness on Jochum, but I have searched for it in multiple places and have yet to find any trace of it available new, used, or at all. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help, and my belated thanks to you, David, for such a long string of informative and entertaining videos! I am watching them with great interest, and spending too much (but never enough) money trying to keep up with all your recommendations. You've turned me onto some gems so far!

This is a wonderful ideal cycle, I don’t think I’d change a thing. Stokowski’s Brahms 4 on RCA blew me away the first time I heard it. Fast enough to melt your face off at times, and incredibly exciting but, as you said, without too many of the indulgent Stokowskiisms (although I usually enjoy those indulgences). It’s a totally unique interpretation, and an extremely satisfying one for those of us who can find Brahms 4 stultifying under the wrong baton.

As always a talk with plenty of brio. The only deviations in my list involve Monteux in the 2nd with the Vienna Philharmonic, which I prefer to his other recorded performances and Sanderling in the 4th with the Staatskapelle Dresden (and Reiner with the Royal Philharmonic as an also-ran.)

I know films don't count, but for a truly "granitic" opening of the 1st, check out the Karajan film of the 1st from the 70s. His films are usually a disaster, for many reasons, but the first chord in the film is fabulous. It's as if all music comes right out of the first tympani stroke. Crack of Doom, indeed. Of all his Brahms, I thing the '64 4th is the best. The long crescendo in the slow movement is so great. The finale is insistent, unforgiving, and apocalyptic.

What do you think about Skrowaczewski/Halle Orchestra for the 4th? I keep going back to that one, especially for the finale.

These IDEAL picks are hitting my classical music collecting obsession buttons. Just when I thought I had the best versions!!! Now I'm hunting down these suggestions like wild animals. Always on the prowl...

Dear Dave, I respect your selection, but in the symphonies my ideal list is this: 1.- Jascha Horenstein-Baden Baden in VOX; 2.- Antal Dorati-Minneapolis in Newton label; 3.- Marin Alsop-London Philharmonic, NAXOS (10/10 in Classicstoday), and 4.- Yevgeny Svetlanov- URSS Academy Symphony Orch, in OLYMPIA, and also Hans Schmidt Isserstedt-NDR, in a similar nivel. best wishes! Oscar Olavarría, from Chile South America

My ideal Brahms cycle: 1) Böhm & Bavarian Radio SO 2) Furtwängler & BPO (Warner) 3) Thielemann & SKD 4) Karajan (1988) S1) Belohlavek S2) Smetaček HV) Solti AO) Bernstein & VPO TO) Giulini & Philharmonia Orchestra

Brahms I: Giulini, LAPO - DG Brahms II: Bernstein - SONY (a crystal clear rendition of my favourite Brahms Symphony and probably a very underrated performance) / Abbado's interpretation is also fantastic (beautiful horns in the adagio!) Brahms III: Karajan, VPO - DECCA! The '64 on DG is also first rate, but it's not Vienna.. Still, give me any of these two Karajan interpretation Brahms IV: Solti! - DECCA ('They played like their lives depended on it') The Serenades: Mackerras - Telarc Hungarian Dances: Fischer, BFO - Philips Violin Concerto: Oistrakh, Szell - Warner (The definition of virtuosity)

Yey! I have both the Wand NDR 3rd and Stokowski,s 4 (Quadra disc)on Lp,s,good choices!

I'm a big fan of the first serenade and Haitink/RCO used to be my personal favourite version untill I came across a certain Spering/Capella Augustina version (available in youtube btw). Just can't get enough of it. What a gem. Fresh pastoral mood throughout, It feels just right balanced to me, contrasting nicely with the noble Haitink version which I still listen too. Just wanted to share that.

I’m curious to know your process of putting these Ideal and Best videos together. With so many recordings to go through for a single video how do you do it? The pace of these videos is pretty quick (several/day) and then a 30 minute chat. Do you listen to 100 Beethoven 5ths? Are you speaking extemporaneously or do you have talking notes? All in all these are enjoyable and entertaining.

Am really enjoying these "dream team" sets discussions, Dave! (maybe for April 1st you can put together a 'disaster team' set of some kind!)

Years ago my mother's boss gave me the Bruno Walter recording of no. 2 and I suspectred it was sentimentality that bound me to it for all these years. But you agreed with me! How reaffirming is that?

Another Brahms 4th I have especially enjoyed comes from the cycle by Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orch. he recorded for CBS in the late 60's. It was included in the Ormandy volume of the "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" by IMG Artists and more recently as part of the set reissued by Japanese Sony. Brahms is often accused of muddy orchestration but this well-recorded performance is one that allows you to bask in the sheer beauty of the orchestral sonorities, for example where the fabulous Philadelphia solo winds or brass choir are highlighted in the Passacaglia movement.

Dave: This is the second opportunity in your videos when you've passed over the "legendary" Carlos Kleiber cds...of course I'm referring to his Beethoven 5/7 and his Brahms 4...To be clear I'm not cheerleading for these cds, but I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping that you will share your thoughts about the Carlos Kleiber mystique and his output...Thanks...and I really appreciate and enjoy your videos!

Dave, I was wondering if you'd be interested in doing a chat/"ideal" video on Brahms works for chorus such as the Requiem, Schicksalslied, Deutsche Volkslieder, Rinaldo, Marienlieder, Alto Rhapsody, Ellens Gesang II, Nänie, etc, etc?

I think that Bernstein & the Vienna phil is also pretty slow and tragic in the Tragic Overture! One of the most beautiful and characterful performances that I know.

1. Furtwangler/Hamburg '51 (alternates: Munch/Paris, Solti/Chicago) 2. Abbado/Berlin (live) (alternates: Klemperer/Philharmonia, Szell/Cleveland) 3. Walter/Columbia (was sure you'd pick it) (alternates: Wand/NDR, Beecham/NBC) 4. Celibidache/Berlin '45 (seriously) (alternates: Jochum/Berlin, Beinum/Concertgebouw) Haydn Variations: Fischer/Budapest also: Friedrich Gulda/Joe Zawinul (comes along with amazing improvisation at the beginning) Serenades: I still haven't done a deep dive. Not for lack of love but there's so much Brahms to listen to in depth. Academic Festival: Eschenbach/Houston Tragic Overture: Giulini/Philharmonia

Hard to argue with that list, I need to check out that Stokowski Brahms 4th!

Tengo una sola duda. ¿Cual es la versión ideal de la segunda sinfonía pero en estéreo?. Gracias

I was wondering why Carlos Kleiber's recording of Brahms fourth with the Wiener Philharmoniker isn't mentioned. To me his recording sounds very inspired, electrifying even, perhaps.

If I were to pick a symphony that creates millions of different opinions on the best recording, Brahms' 4th comes to my mind. It seems like people have so many different conception over this symphony. My favorite 4th (for now) is Dohnanyi with Cleveland. I guess I tend to dislike the approach that makes this piece too exciting, too passionate, or too heavy. I appreciate less romantic and more natural, classical approach, for my image of the piece is more like a passionate monologue by an extremely introvert person. That said, I sometimes enjoy the opposite approach as well when the mood is right. XD My list would be: 1) Munch/OP 2) Monteux/LSO 3) Walter/CSO 4) Dohnanyi/CO Tragic Overture - Jochum/LPO Academic Overture - Bernstein/NYP Serenade1 - Haitink/Concertgebouworkest - but I tried Belohlavek today and this may be my new fav! Serenade2 - Mackerras Haydn Var. - Szell/CO

Symphony No. 1 - Ivan Fischer / Budapest Festival Orchestra (Channel Classics) Symphony No. 2 -- Marek Janowski / Pittsburgh Symphony (PentaTone) Symphony No. 3 -- Marin Alsop / London Philharmonic (Naxos) Symphony No. 4 -- James Levine / Chicago Symphony (RCA) Academic Festival Overture - Otto Klemperer / Philharmonia (EMI) Haydn Variations -- George Szell / Cleveland (Sony) Tragic Overture - Karl Böhm / Vienna Philharmonic (DG) Serenade No. 1 -- Dirk Joeres / Westdeutsche Sinfonia (Alto) Serenade No. 2 -- Jaime Martin / Gävle Symphony (Ondine)

@David Hurwitz What do you think of Dohnanyi's 2nd cycle with the Philharmonia?

I think 3rd symphony has a great record by Furtwangler and on the 4th I liked Bernstein softness, But I loved what Jochum did... the heaviness of the first notes is what I wanted.

My Brahms symhponies are probably these 1 - Ančerl, Czech Phil. 2 - Karajan, Berlin (1978) 3 - Levine, Chicago 4 - Kleiber, Vienna (IMO it must be Kleiber but have to listen to Stokowski)

1: Stokowski, London Symphony (1974) The 92-year-old Stokowski was not lacking any of his powers. 2: Beecham, Royal Philharmonic (1956 - mono) Live. Beecham shouts at the orchestra in the finale, and the audience applauds prematurely. But the excitement is contagious. 3: Jochum, London Philharmonic (1977). Jochum accomplished what other great conductors failed to do - record a convincing Third. 4: Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Serenade No.1: Kertesz, London Symphony Serenade No.2: Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Haydn Variations: Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic Academic Overture: Weingartner, London Symphony (1940 - mono) Brisk, but perfectly paced, like all of his Brahms. Tragic Overture: Klemperer, Philharmonia. This grave piece suits Klemperer's slow pace.

Hi Dave, a superb selection again! Let me add mine: Symphony No 1: A tie between the Karl Böhm/BPO (DG 1959) and my latest purchase Sir Adrian Boult/LPO (EMI 1973) No 2: Tie again between Karel Ancerl/Czech PO (Supraphon) and Bruno Walter/Columbia SO (CBS/Sony) No 3: Szell/Cleveland O (CBS/Sony) No 4: Herbert Blomstedt/Gewandhausorchester (Decca) Haydn Variations: Agreed on Jochum/London SO (DG) Serenades: The jury is still out here Academic Festival Overture: Solti/Chicago SO (Decca) Tragic Overture: no decision yet

Of course agree with your choice... except the 4th My choice for the 4th symphony: Carlos Kleiber... can you say something about this recording?

Any comments regarding the Edmund Rubbra transcription of the Handel-variations for full orchestra? I would like to humbly suggest it should receive more performances...

I know this is going to be frowned upon but I like the last recording (late eighties digital on DG) of the Brahms symphonies, etc. by Karajan and the Berlin Philh. I know it has received bad reviews but I much prefer them to any others I have heard from anybody. Would love to hear your ideas on these Brahms/Karajan works. Thanks Dave for your reviews. Love them all!

Symphony 1: Ormandy and Philadelphia (those strings!). Symphony 2: Szell and Cleveland (those rhythms!). Symphony 3: Dohnanyi and Cleveland (the ways he ends it!). Symphony 4: Munch and Boston (he makes that German tango swing!). Serenade 1: Haitink and Concertgebouw (most beautiful playing you'll ever hear!). Serenade 2: Boult and London Philharmonic (talk about an old guy who still had it!). Haydn Variations: Walter and Columbia Symphony (because all of Walter's Brahms is great!). Tragic Overture: Solti and Chicago (the winds!). Academic Festival Overture: Bernstein and NYPO (why argue?).

I would choose Klemperer for the 1st. Szell for the 2nd. Walter in mono for the 3rd. Bohm for the 4th. Szell for the Haydn Variations and the two "overtures." (sorry, I know there's supposed to be a different conductor for each piece but I love his Brahms). Abbado for the 1st serenade. Bernstein (CBS) for the 2nd serenade.

Ideal Brahms cycle: 1 - munch and BSO; 2 - Steinberg - Pittsburgh; 3 - Walter and Columbia; 4 - Reiner and Royal Philharmonic (preferable to Kleiber, I think). How would you compare the 4th between Reiner and Kleiber?

I remember my younger self having a distaste for his thicc orchestration. Now I got used to it but still find symphonies 1 snd 4 fatiguing due to long held tension not being relieved much

For anybody’s interest I found a fantastic Brahms 4th by Paray & Detroit Symphony on RU-vid. It’s in mono, but it’s a powerful performance

Is the RCA Stoky Brahms 4 more exciting than his live BBC Proms Brahms 4 recorded on May 4, 1974? The live Proms performance is thrilling - I have it on the BBC Radio Classics label. Do you know it, David? If so, how does it compare to the RCA studio performance?

Also, curious.. you didn't like the Kleiber Beethoven, what was you view of his Brahms 4th?... that made a lot of 'greatest' lists in the day.

For me the best cycles are too many. We are lucky. Jochum emi, haitink black box, wand black box, Walter stereo, Klemperer, Svetlanov on Melodya, Mackerras with smaller orchestra. For individuals: 1 - Furtwangler hamburg 48; Van Beinum stereo -- really bring out the structure 4 - Bernstein sony; reiner chesky -- really keep the work flowing and tumultuous. For me the first serenade and first piano concerto started out as symphonies and I wish Brahms had completed them as that. I have not heard a performance of the first serenade that treats it as what it should have been......although Haitink is quite fine.

Ok, here goes, but my rule is still not just no duplication but no common choices with the David Hurwitz list: 1. Levine Chicago (for the timpani) 2. Monteux LSO (for an especially exciting finale) 3. Reiner Chicago 4 Markevitch Lamoureux (for those trombones in the finale, but could have gone with Toscanini Philharmonia here, too. Also could have been Kempe and the BBC Symphony on BBC Legends). Haydn Variations Toscanini NYPO (1936) (hard to pick a favourite; a lot of great choices, but Toscanini gets it because he got bumped from the Symphonies) Serenade 1 Mackerras (wanted to pick Kertesz for both, or Toscanini, or Abbado, but rules are rules) Serenade 2 Kertesz (see Serenade 1) Academic Festival Overture Abaddo BPO (never heard better, but also never heard one that made me entirely happy, either. Haven't heard Bernstein's NYPO one yet, so life may still hold some surprises) Tragic Overture Szell Cleveland (who else?) Love the Brahms 4th and have to confess that I've never heard the Stokowski (although I have that RCA Stereo box!). Thanks for the tip, Dave. Rockets to the top of my next listening list.

Gosh, this is tough! #1 Dohnanyi/Cleveland #2 Montaux/ LSO #3 Walter/ Columbia SO #4 Levine/ Chicago (more "youthful" than the Vienna remake...fabulous tympani in the third movement). Haydn Variations. Toscanini/ NYP. Not as much of a sonic compromise as you might think, in the Pristine Audio version. Szell if you insist on stereo. Tragic Overture. Klemperer Academic Festival Overture. Bernstein/ NYP Serenade 1. Brusilow/Chamber Orch of Philadelphia. If you can find it, Grab it! Serenade 2. Kertesz/LSO

I would like to add something nobody has mentioned here. It is a bit out of subject (recordings). For me No. 1 Brahms is a live performance by K. Böhm + VPO in Tokyo in 1975 (it is here on RU-vid!!). I know you don´t like Böhm (too stiff), but his live recordings are just marvelous. Strongly recommend this - just give it a try. I guarantee you will like it!

Symphony 1: Klemperer (Warner) Symphony 2: Walter (Sony-Mono) Symphony 3: Wand (RCA) Symphony 4: Stokowski (RCA)

Dave, greetings from the Penal Colonies. Thanks for your latest instalment. This, I cannot resist. Here are my nominees: Brahms 1 - Karajan DG live in Tokyo 1988 Brahms 2 - Monteux Brahms 3 - Bruno Walter Brahms 4 - Furtwängler 1943. A bat out of Hell. Serenade 1 - Kertesz Serenade 2 - Abbado Academic Festival Overture - Szell Tragic Overture - Ancerl Variations - Ormandy. B.

@David Hurwitz - First of all excellent video - as always, appreciate that you take the time to do this. In these times, is fantastic to look forward to then. You mentioned in your video the turntables of the past. Well. It is not the past! There is a vinyl revival going on and would love to hear your opinion of it. In fact there is an irony going on here. One of my daughters saw me watching one of your videos. Her comment - "oh he is old fashioned like you Dad, he listens to CDs!" - What an irony isn't it? The newer technology is considered old fashioned. Let me give you my take on it. I am full on with the vinyl revival. I have a decent turntable that I use to listen to Rock and Jazz. But not classical.Why? Well, I have tried but for whatever reason, what you can ignore or don't notice in Rock or Jazz, is unbearable with Classical. Little ticks and pops don't matter in other style. In Classical, they are painfully noticeable and loud. I have tried. Only the best pressings will do. And that is just too much work (and money). I love vinyl - for Rock and Jazz. For Classical, digital is still the best option. IMHO. Wonder what is your take?

Glad to hear praises for Stokowski's 4th. As you say it's a very unsung interpretation.

When you mention the beginning of the Brahms 1st in Klemperer's reading, it is of course brilliant, but is not the beginning of Abbado's recording somehow even more tragic and doom-filled than Klemperer's? Maybe I just imprinted on that recording, but I think Abbado is utterly brilliant in that symphony.

I heard a Classical radio announcer say the Haydn Variations had nothing to do with a Haydn theme. Is that so?

Thanks for the video Dave. For me the best and most idiomatic performance of the Tragic overture will be Szell and Cleveland. They play it like their lives depended on it, like a hurricane storm coming at you. Just listening to the Ancerl and it’s a stunner! Thanks for the recommendation, although I still think the Szell is superior :)

My list: #1: GiulinI/Los Angeles Philharmonic (DG); What a performance! Ditto for the LA #2 from the same series, and both are beyond superior to the late Vienna remakes or earlier EMI versions. I also have a sentimental fondness for Wand/Chicago Symphony (Live, RCA) which I think is a terrific disc. #2: Monteux/London Symphony (Philips, now Decca/Eloquence): I love the NYPO Walter, which is simply exciting as you can get, but for the kind of loving warmth (this ironically was supposed to be a Bruno Walter thing at all times) that imbues so many performances of this work, perhaps none was more authentic a sound than Monteux's. #3: Levine/Chicago Symphony (RCA); It's sobering to think that one of the last century's Brahms conductors is such an unsavory character. The whole RCA cycle is pretty great, but should the behavior be too gross to consider the artist, I suggest Solti (Decca) with the same orchestra or Abbado/Berlin Philharmonic (DG). #4: Kleiber/Vienna Philharmonic (DG); Perhaps he doesn't have the strongest musical personality on the planet, but there's a certain freshness to this beautifully played and recorded performance that cannot be overlooked. Certainly he's no Stokowski. Historical buffs should check out Sabata/Berlin Philharmonic (DG) or Toscanini/Philharmonia (Testament, and now on Warner as well). Haydn Variations: Ormandy/Philadelphia (RCA Japan/ArkivCD); No, I'm not kidding. Coupled with a very brisk Bruckner 7--already mentioned by DH in his Bruckner 7 review--Brahms was supposedly one of Ormandy's favorite composers. Who knew? The orchestra is magnificent, and both Ormandy and the RCA recording team are at their most compelling given the date. Tragic Overture: Walter/Columbia Symphony (Sony Classical); A classic performance that shows Walter could be as fiery as anyone. The whole cycle is great. Academic Festival: Jochum/London Philharmonic (EMI/Warner); Because I have to put him somewhere. Serenade #1: and #2: My choices are the same as Dave here, though I'd also consider Haitink/Concertgebouw (Decca) or Masur/Leipzig (Eloquence) for one or the other.

For Brahms give me Klemperer