A nearly forgotten Karajan treasure
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This seems to be the first stereo release, at least in the U.S., of two Philharmonia performances that Karajan recorded in 1955. They enjoyed a previous mono release, but the stereo versions, despite sounding a bit thin in he violins, defy their early date. In fact, the sweetness of the Philharmonia's tone and the relative delicacy of Karajan's approach to the Brahms Second bring new pleasure to an old specialty of his (I now own six recordings he made of the Second, beginning with the Vienna Phil. in 1949 and ending with a digital version from Berlin in the 1980s).
As an interpretation, there are some unusual elements here. The first movement begins very quietly without much rhythmic emphasis, and Karajan returns to this placid mood several times later on. The climaxes are built strongly but without the monumentality that would become a hallmark of the conductor's style later on. In other words, this is the most intimate of his readings and treasurable for that quality alone. The supple horn solos must be Dennis Brain, and he leads a poetic group of soloists, such as the oboe in the Scherzo, whose tangy English timbre reminds me of years gone by.
Karajan's approach remains low-key and lyrical in the slow movement--who would think that he could come this close in style to Bruno Walter? As was his wont, the finale begins quickly without any attempt to invoke mystery before the eruption of the rollicking main theme. In every respect this movement is joyful and bright. I am always reminded that Karajan deserves his preeminent reputation in Brahms, even when he wasn't climbing mountains with the Berliners.
I've never felt as happy with his micromanaged, overly sleek Schubert, however. A complete symphony cycle for EMI in the Seveneties finds the Berlin Phil. curshing the music to death, and although there's a very good "Unfinished" on DG, it too seems weighty. Karajan had brought the Philharmonia to a state of such refinement by 1955 that I hoped for this reading to be beter proportioned, sweeter, and more innocent. So it proves to be, despite somewhat acid sound. ON all counts Karajan avoids ponderousness, and nothing is slick. Yet he doesn't seem completley involved, either. He was obviously in a relaxed mood, again like Walter, so I can appreciate this as a traditionalist reading. Even so, it could use more individuality.
In all, the Brahms turns out to be the great find, with the Schubert as a pleasant addendum."
Track Listings (6) - Disc #1