REVIEW - DG ORIGINAL SOURCE Batch #5 Part 2: Beethoven "Pastoral" Symphony, Brahms 1st Symphony
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 พ.ค. 2024
- In the second of two videos I review the latest batch of Deutsche Grammophon's Original Source Vinyl Releases, mastered and cut all-analogue by Emil Berliner Studios from the original 4-track master tapes.
Here I talk about Karl Bohm's classic recording of Beethoven's 6th "Pastoral" Symphony with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and Claudio Abbado's account of Brahms' 1st Symphony, also with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
I also discuss other landmark recordings of both works on vinyl and CD.
PLUS - a SURPRISE UNBOXING of the upcoming limited edition Giulini vinyl box set of Bruckner's Symphonies 7, 8, 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, remastered and cut by Emil Berliner Studios.
You can watch Part 1 of this review here:
• REVIEW - DG ORIGINAL S...
I mention my colleague at Tracking Angle, Michael Johnson's written reviews of these records. You can find those reviews at the links below:
trackingangle.com/music/danie...
trackingangle.com/features/bb...
You can read my own articles and reviews at trackingangle.com
Two articles on the Original Source Series:
Detailed introduction to the series, with technical information, review of first four titles (recently re-released), including Abbado's "Rite of Spring" (which I featured in a recent video on this channel):
trackingangle.com/features/re...
Preview of the upcoming Karajan/Bruckner cycle, remastered and cut AAA directly from the 8-track mastertapes:
trackingangle.com/features/ka...
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Recommended channels for classical music fans and collectors:
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by David Hurwitz
th-cam.com/channels/Sf-.html...
Poetry On Plastic
th-cam.com/channels/ShT.html...
Flowering Spikes
/ @floweringspikes
The most recent Classical Bums livestream:
th-cam.com/users/liveB3Z5azQB...
An invaluable guide to all the different pressings of the main classical labels:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iJYk...
Another excellent resource for new classical recordings is BBC Radio 3's long-standing weekly broadcast "Record Review". Shows remain available to listen to for 30 days after first broadcast:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06w...
My system, which has evolved over 20-plus years, is tube based and many pieces were acquired used. It was mostly put together with the invaluable help and ears of Eliot Midwood at Acoustic Image (acousticimage.com) who is also responsible for many of the fine recordings on the Yarlung label.
Well-Tempered Classic Turntable (round motor)
Micro-Benz Ruby 2 MC Cartridge
Phonostage: L.A. Audio (currently out of commission - so I am using the stellar Schiit Mani 2 phonostage)
Cary Audio CD/SACD 306
Preamp: Kora Equinoxe
Amps: Genesis Monoblocks 60 Amp Valve
Speakers: Silverline Sonatas with upgraded crossover and tweeters (Dynaudio)
Cabling: Aural Symphonics
Custom-made stands, with a Townshend Seismic Sink for the Well-Tempered turntable - เพลง
We need more chamber music reissues.. please pretty please DG. ❤️🙏🏻
I couldn't agree more!
These recordings all bring back memories from my youth in the late seventies early 80s. I also have the Karajan Brahms 1970s cycles in vinyl. That set tought me Brahms. The Bohm Beethoven 6th I remember buying in a Walkman Classics cassette (remember those ?). Glorious .. I have it in CD but I am intrigued by this vinyl. Finally Call me devil's advocate but regarding Giulini's set; I understand the Master is digital ... so why vinylize it if not for just to please the vinyl crowd. Most likely the Vinyl underwent a process similar to Mofi controversial reissues from PCM to DSD to filters to cutting lathe. Again thanks for the beautiful video and your pleasant presentation.
That Abbado Brahms 1 was revelatory. Perfect transparency.
I absolutely agree. In fact, except for a weak 4th, I much prefer Abbado's first cycle to his Berlin. that Dresden 3rd is just plain gorgeous.
Very interesting talk. Thank you. I hope, they will reissue Brahms 3 with Abbado and the Staatskapelle Dresden in this series.
I am so very happy to finally find a soul mate who thinks as much of Abbado's early account as do I. I admit that I imprinted on this recording, having purchased the set from a record club...subpar Italian pressings....I've since purchased used, the original European issued set. I really love the whole thing, especially that gorgeous 3rd.
My colleague at Tracking Angle, Michael Johnson (aka @poetryonplastic), also really liked the Abbado 1st.
@@musiconrecord6724 Ah! Another soul mate.
By the way, there is a specific detail that eludes most listeners in the final movement regarding the horns. In most recordings, they've been altered to enhance the weight of the moment, but I prefer Brahms' original idea. Here is the altered score on IMSLP.
ks15.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/6/69/IMSLP23098-PMLP01662-BraWV,_S._292.pdf
Scroll down to page 78. The original, of course, was scored for the horns of Brahms' day, but I think he knew what he was doing here. The original has this passage passing from horns, to woodwinds, and then strings. Three distinct colors, and that syncopated horn figure really makes the music drive forward. That's what I hear in Abbado, that I've missed everywhere else. He accentuated that syncopation like no one else.
For the record, I've only heard the original scoring from Vienna and the period instrument groups. Most other recordings use the alters horn parts.
Kertesz is another great Brahms 1st that plays the original.
Thank you, Mark. The Giulini/Bruckner is very tempting. On the other hand, i can’t believe that i bought an 8-disc box set that already contains these fabulous sounding Bruckner symphonies on top of the 4 Brahms symphonies. And all that goodness for 15 Eur new. Ok, it’s on CD. But what a treat nonetheless. Can only recommend it highly to anyone not willing to spend the 10-fold on the Bruckner set alone.
Both the Giulini and the Karajan are, I think, reasonably priced considering how many records you are getting. But the important thing is to enjoy these recordings in whatever manner suits your budget.
Well you peaked my interest now on the Abbado/Brahms. Thanks!
An anecdote re the Bruckner 9:
I had heard it many years ago when I was in my early 20s and didnt connect with the music at all. Much later a friend, who lives in NYC, gifted me a CD of this same performance by Giulini. It remained un-played in my cabinet for a while. Sometime later, I attempted to listen to it and was, to put it plainly, shattered. And this was only after the first movement! I called my friend and left a message on his machine, telling him how strongly I had connected with the music; and thanked him profusely. When we actually spoke to each other, I said I wouldn't normally have called long-distance unless it was really urgent or an emergency. He responded, "Connecting with Bruckner's 9th IS an emergency" 🙂
🤣🤣🤣
It is always a pleasure to watch your videos. Thank you very much!
Thanks for watching!
Thankyou for this -i m a big fan of the yellow D.G. label -on vinyl of course!!
My favorite for years, didn't know about the SACD Japanese set! A must have!
The Beethoven 6th recording by Karl Bohm was the first classical Lp I bought as a teenager. I knew nothing of the orchestra, or the conductor but the cover impressed, as did the Edison Sticker placed on the front face of the cover, which I believe meant the recording had won an award of some kind.
I still have the Lp and until recently it was one of the few Lp’s I placed in a second protective outer sleeve, such was my affection and nostalgia for this recording.
In later years I have purchased alternative recordings of this particular piece along with various sets of the Beethoven Symphonies but this one remains my go to version. As an aside, I find the sound of the Vienna Philharmonic under Karl Bohm, along with the recordings by Otto Klemperer and the Philharmonia Orchestra, align with my sense of how I expect this music to sound.
With regards to the new DG OS release and the series generally. I have purchased a good number of them and this one was the first one where there have been quality control issues. My original copy arrived a week ago and was so badly warped I feared playing it would damage our mc cartridge and so I returned it to Amazon UK.
The replacement arrived late yesterday evening and this morning my wife and I sat down to listen to it.
Our verdict. It really is something special. If the piece is one you like, just buy it whilst you can. It’s pure musical enjoyment and a credit to everyone, past and present, who contributed to making it possible for us to listen to this in the comfort of our own homes.
Happy trails.
So glad you got a good copy in the end. This is a very special record indeed, and thank you for sharing your personal story with it.
These are wonderful reviews, as usual. I hadn't been familiar with Bohm's take on Beethoven's Pastoral and it's everything you say it is. My Original Source copy played wonderfully and sounded pristine. I comoletely agree with your remarks on this one. I've had Abbado's Brahm's first since 1974. This has always been my go-to for this masterpiece and I've always loved it. Abbado was a great introduction for me into this work. However, I received 2 copies of this one from Amazon and they both had loud clicks and pops in the same place - the beginning of the second movement. I shied away DG's Original Source because, IMO, DG has always had pressing issues, and it seems these are no exceptions, at least on this one. It's very disappointing because it is wonderfully remastered and the sonics are fantastic. But it seems there are still some quality control issues, even with these premium reissues.
So sorry to hear about these problems - maybe try sending back and getting a replacement?
One could feel the fun you have doing this. I have all the TOS recordings and pre ordered that Bruckner set.
You will not be disappointed!
Hello from Bombay (Mumbai) India!
Thank you so much for this detailed survey of recordings of Beethoven's "Pastorale" symphony (among others). It really took me down memory lane!
The recording with which I discovered this symphony, as a child, was the one by Pierre Monteux. I remember being enthralled by the "Storm" movement, while listening to it during an actual Monsoon thunderstorm, with rain lashing against the living-room windows of our high-rise apartment.
The next recording I acquired (during my teens) was the one you discuss: the sublime performance by Bohm and the VPO on DG. A pre-recorded cassette, which was replaced by an LP, stupidly sold or given away when I acquired the CD on DG Originals...which is what I own today. What a lovely performance, so "right" in every way, with the Shepherd's Hymn final movement having an extremely moving, spiritual quality.
I found the Karajan/Philharmonia LP (and the 7th too) in a used-record sale; and now have the complete set in the remastered Warner Classics release that you speak about. I also have his Berlin 1963 version (as part of the complete set) and think this has been unjustly maligned as being too "cold"...because it seems to me that the conductor was only trying to avoid the typical sentimentality associated with this work, by using brink, businesslike tempi.
But the BEST all-round recording for me is, unquestionably, the one made in the 70s (not the digital remake which I have never heard) by Kurt Masur and the Leipzig Gewandhaus orchestra. This has musicality AND energy in spades, with supremely idiomatic phrasing and rhythm, evident in every bar. It is truly magnificent, though sadly under-rated. I hope you and your readers will listen to it...if you haven't already.
All the best!
Thank you for this wonderful trip down memory lane. I don't know that Masur at all, but that period yielded some amazing stiff with him and the Leipzig Gewandhaus, mainly on EMI as I recall. I will look out for it.
@@musiconrecord6724 thank YOU for all the knowledge and information you share! The Masur set was originally released on an East-German label (Eurodisc?) and later on a wonderful-sounding Philips box of 8 or 9 LPs, including all the overtures...which I had and, again, sold. They were reissued on Philips "Duo" CDs, some of which are still available; and Pentatone SACDs...if you can find them!
For me, that Bohm Pastoral, along with Walter on Columbia, can be considered THE reference recording.
As much as I like and respect Karajan, to get his absolute best Beethoven cycle, one must cherry pick from all four of his recorded cycles. First off, he never really "got" the 5th. They're all fine, but none really memorable in the same way Kleiber is/are (both father and son). Karajan's mid-70s 9th is, I think his best, though I still love the 63 account for the truly heavenly voice of Gundula Janowitz.
Yes, the 9th for me remains 1963 all the way. And indeed he never did nail the 5th - surprising.
@@musiconrecord6724 Yes, that is surprising. I mean....he was always good and reliable in the 5th, but never truly gripping.
Actually, as said, I prefer his mid-70s 9th, but Oh!...that angelic voice of Janowitz. No wonder he recording Four Last Songs with her.
Thanks, Mark. Well done as always! I picked up the latest 4 this weekend at Amoeba, and I must say that I agree with you on all counts. Jenn
And I trust Counterpoint yielded lucrative results....
@@musiconrecord6724 It did indeed. Several outstanding Londons and EMIs, in excellent condition after cleaning.
Enjoyed your talk, as always. Agree with you re Karajan's first recording of LVB's 6. It is warmer than his 3 rerecordings for DG. Karajan loved nature, by all accounts, so it is surprising that he sometimes sounds impatient in this symphony. I love his first LVB cycle for EMI. Has a freshness about it.
Completely agree.
Really?? We should be grateful to Deutsche Grammofon for releasing these Original Sources, honestly we are paying massive €, most of them are in the mid 50's or close to 60 € for a single album. Deutsche Grammofon should be grateful that someone is stupid enough to pay such outrageous amounts and on top of that they are only 39,95 $ in the U.S.A. How is that possible? nI live in Berlin and pay almost twice as much as people in America?
I meant "grateful" in the sense that these exist at all. While EMI, Decca etc. are sitting on their hands in terms of vinyl reissues, or even worse relying on digital files for their sources, DG is reviving its back catalogue in the most spectacular fashion, going the AAA route and then some. You will get no argument from me about the steep prices.
Thanks Mark part 2 was just as helpful especially the wider context of alternative pressings to consider. So….drumroll….. I’ve gone for Bohm.
You won't regret it!
Waiting for my Beethoven 6 and Brahms 1 in this series to show up. I've ordered most of the Original Source series so far and have not been disappointed. Almost passed on the Abbado Brahms 1 but after watching your review I'm glad I didn't. Agree that picking up the Bohm Beethoven 6 is a "no-brainer". Only have skipped out on the Verdi, Mozart and Gilels Beethoven piano sonata offerings but have bought everything else. Ordered the Giulini Bruckner 7-9 set while watching. I've already have got them on CD but these vinyl pressings look splendid. Agree that the Giulini VPO Bruckner 9 is the benchmark recording. A brilliant, glowing interpretation. Tempted by the Karajan Bruckner vinyl box set. I do have the CDs and the digital versions of the early symphonies (1-3, was it?) in this particular cycle suffered from the infamous DG "digital edge" which has me somewhat concerned about taking the plunge on a set that's not going to be cheap.
The sonic upgrade on the Karajan set is going to be substantial, even for those harsh digital versions of 1-3. If you like these performances do not hesitate. I skipped the Verdi and Mozart too, but the Gilels Beethoven is marvelous (though OOP now, alas).
@@musiconrecord6724 I now where I can get one if I change my mind. Have it on CD already.
very tempted by some of these though at fifty pounds each is very expensive when i have the OG's, i buy remastered Rock albums for 25 to 35, sometimes more, maybe they will filter down to the used market in a year or three.
The prices have crept up, especially in Europe, which is unfortunate. Here in the US cost is more reasonable, though we have been plagued by availability issues, which thankfully now seem to have been solved (at least for the most recent set of releases)
amo musica classica tenho na faixa de 70 a 80 cds saudo desde brasil
Dear Mark thank you so much for these suggestions. Since you are writing about Furtwängler Brahms First (Berlin, 1945, Fourth Mov.) I suggest you to find the cd boxset edited by Music & Arts “Furtwängler conducts Brahms” with several essays of exceptional conducting (ex.”Haydn Variations”) and a very well written booklet. Also extremely interesting the two writings by Furtwängler about Brahms ...
Thanks so much for these suggestions.
PS: I have a ~500 DG LP collection and as much on CD. Unlike what seems to be a trend to say i think many of the 70’s recordings on 12” are much better than we are made to believe. Maybe with the exception of some piano solo recordings.
The DG piano recordings were always problematic - where applicable, the OSS sonic upgrades on the piano sound have been considerable.
Yes, the sound of the CSO brass. Saw two concerts, Beethoven 9th and Also Sprach after
the heart attack. And after passing, the Beethoven 6th came out, (non CSO Brahms 4th).
Culmination of a lifetime of conducting. More talk of Dynagroove, than performance.
The wonderful Reiner 6th was out in a wonderful JVC XRCD JMCR-0020. And also is
included from DSD sourced set of Reiner from RCA Poland. Because of no recent LP releases, and the closer mic sound, no new LP versions exist and this 6th has been
forgotten.
I purchased a couple of this series and i find the mastering horrible. The mastering alrhough clear and detailed is very bombastic. Micro dynamic shading and overall emotive expressivness has been evisetated in the quest for hifi. I much prefer the originals which may lack the clarity, is much more commincatively expressive. I dont know why people like this series.
Come on Karl Böhm was an AUSTRIAN conductor. Have you been 😮watching too much Hurwitz or something?
Take your point but what he actually said was he was a typical ‘German kind of conductor’, not that he was German, I took him to mean , he was born and educated in Austria, but his first appointment as a conductor was in Germany : Bavarian State Opera
Oh too funny!!! 🤣🤣😂
@@Andrew_from_Oz_Vinyl_Landscape I don't accept that. He obviously didn't do his homework and didn't know that Boehm was Austrian. It's slapdash work.
@@geraldginther7364your entitled to your opinion of course lol