Review: The WORST Ever Brahms Third Symphony 

As a music reviewer myself I had to mention the great pleasure I get from viewing your presentations. No, I do not agree with everything you say, and find that you miss some of my favorites, but that is to be expected. You obviously receive great pleasure in preparing and presenting these comments. I must comment, however, on your choice for worst piece of music. I rather enjoyed the Djabadary piece that received your damnation. Surely Beethoven's Wellington's Victory, or Grofe's Piano Concerto, or anything by Carter, Wourinen would qualify as a better choice rather than old Djabadary. (Becker--American record Guide).

Nirvana and sensory deprivation ... ha ha! I don't know that recording but I have Stokowski's Brahms 4 live from the Royal Albert Hall, 1974. Maybe the same description applies but I find it a wonderful experience, serene, glowing, ethereal with a real sense of occasion and inspiration.

Mr. Hurwitz, What IS it about this magnificent work that is so elusive to bring off successfully by most great conductors? In addition to the ghastly Stokowski and Furtwangler performances, I would cite the Toscanini/NBC as one of the worst ever. It would be interesting to know which performances you like of this work. If my memory is not faulty, I remember liking Szell, Jochum/Berlin, Karajan/Vienna, Klemperer, Walter (both NYP and Columbia Symphony), and Cantelli. I also like Steinberg's Brahms, but don't remember what his Third sounded like. I haven't heard Carl Schuricht's, but he is such a great musician I bet his performance probably sweeps the field.

I am so curious, I had to listen to this Brahms Third. With it there is a Brahms First conducted by William Steinberg that justify me to keep the disc.

Whew!! I thought you were going to pick the Norrington/London Classical Players. I have not heard the Stoki (I try not to listen to his recordings!), but my curiosity has been piqued!

I was guessing that you will be talking about Mitropoulos's live recording (it was published by Orfeo label) - he does the same comedy of "stop and go" in the first movement. As for Stoki - I'm not sure if his Tchaikovsky's 4th with the NBC from 1940s is not even more grotesque than this Brahms.

I know this is a bit off tangent, but it is Stokowski related. I've been listening to his Everest recording of Tchiakovsky"s Francesca da Rimini and Hamlet, and does anyone know more info about the Stadium Symphony Orchestra of New York? They sound fantastic here, and I believe they were a pickup band, maybe including members of the New York Phil?

I agree with you about the Stokowski, and would add the Furtwängler and Haitink as other disasters.

I highly value your exceptional musical culture and approach. But above all I highly value the humour that comes with it.

Thank you for bringing this car crash of a performance to my attention...what were they thinking?

This reminds me of my worst recording of Brahms 3, Bernard Haitink with LSO live, utterly soulless and missing any drama. I bought it for the serenade no 2 which is quite good, but I've had to find another version so I could remove it from my collection, I hate it so!

There's no bigger Leonard Bernstein fan than me, but his remake of Brahms' 3rd with the Vienna Philharmonic is the worst I've ever heard. Its first movement is the slowest on record, totally ignoring Brahms' tempo indications. Lenny got slower as he got older, but this one was ridiculous. s

The pantheon of disastrous 3rds has to include Zubin Mehta and the NYP from 1984 - what a mess.

It is really worst than Cobra's half tempo recording ? Hard to believe

Not an easy work to put across. Guess the old Wizard had an off day!👺

For me Toscanini is one of the worst Brahms interpreters, its so hard and without warmth...

The second I saw the title I said to myself 'Stokowski.' Sigh of relief you agree.

David, may I nominate Rattle's B3 with the Berlin Phil and the exposition (and repeat) of the first movement? Welcome to Droop City. B

Ah ah ah! Great! Yes of course Stokowski wasn't made for Brahms...apart that Brahms' third symphony is the best among the four symphonies he composed...anyway, if you want another monstruosity, atrocious and awful, try to listen to Knappertsbusch...really a listener can save NOTHING of his performance!

😂 You make me too laugh