[.ca] Brahms: Symphonies 1-4

Chronique amazon.fr:
Gravée au début des années 80, cette intégrale des symphonies de Brahms brille par son équilibre et sa justesse. Le lyrisme porté par les cordes n'est jamais forcé ou excessif, le fondu sonore des cuivres permet une aération des phrases. Ainsi, les finales des Seconde et Quatrième symphonies sont exemplaires par la chaleur, la rondeur et la précision des timbres. Wand ne cherche pas à dramatiser la tension de l'orchestre, encore moins à faire preuve d'hédonisme. Il réussit à restituer toute la clarté et la magie du mouvement de ces pages si célèbres. On ne peut qu'admirer ce refus de focaliser les accents sur tel ou tel pupitre : le relief n'en est que plus saisissant. Assurément, cette intégrale est l'une des plus heureuses de toute la discographie. --Étienne Bertoli

The finest Brahms of them all.:
I've listened to nearly three dozen sets of Brahms's symphonies and have never been satisfied with any complete cycle until now. Guenter Wand's Brahms is youthful (yes-- youthful, though the conductor was in his eighties!), polished, transparent, powerful, unique yet authoritative. These live performances-- free of any noise from the audience-- were captured by RCA in crystal clear digital sound. The playing of the strings in the NDR Symphony Orchestra is silvery and urbane, the winds are full and dark in the best German tradition and the entire group outplays the Berlin Philharmonic or any other contemporary orchestra. Wand wastes no time in the First Symphony-- the slow introduction flows quickly and with purpose as the timpani beat beneath the strings. The cataclysmic exchange as the 1st movement builds up its angry energy is even more exciting than Karajan's version from the 1960s. Wand and orchestra really shine in the Second Symphony, weaving Brahms's melodies in the 1st movement and surging with controlled intensity toward the Finale's conclusion, the interplay of the brass perfectly executed. The enigma that is the Third Symphony is unfolded as successfully here as anyone save Klemperer, and at the very least Wand doesn't fight against Brahms's classical (rather than Romantic) conception. The Fourth is the most breath-taking. As he did so often in Bruckner, Wand discovers so many things in the music and brings them together with such concentration, one almost can't believe what one is hearing. Carlos Kleiber's version in justly celebrated, but the virtues of that recording-- ideal tempi, Gothic darkness, a sense of tragedy-- are even more apparent in this version. All four symphonies come on two discs in a fine slipcase, with helpful liner notes.

Can vary by taste but this set is outstanding IMHO:
Brahms (unlike, say Mozart) can be effectively performed in a wide range of styles, so personal taste is a big issue with the various versions of his symphonies. My feeling is that (because of this variability in Brahm's music) a range of performances might be enjoyable. Amongst the ten or so I'm aware of, Wand's is the most satisfying. But I also really enjoy Lennie's versions, even though he is rightly accused of slowing them down almost to a crawl---but they are nevertheless Brahms. If you are looking for a set of the Symphonies, however, you can't do much better than these.

• Un Poco Sostenuto - Allegro
• Andante Sostenuto
• Un Poco Allegretto E Grazioso
• Adagio Non Troppo Ma Con Brio
• Allegro Con Brio
• Andante
• Poco Allegretto
• Allegro
• Allegro Non Troppo
• Adagio Non Troppo
• Allegretto Grazioso (Quasi Andantino)
• Allegro Con Spirito
• Allegro Non Troppo
• Andante Moderato
• Allegretto Giocoso - Poco Meno Presto
• Allegro Energico E Passionato - Piu Allegro