Search - Johannes Brahms, Bernard Haitink, London Symphony Orchestra :: Brahms: Symphony No. 3; Serenade No. 2 [Hybrid SACD]

In old age, Haitink has decided to play Brahms without an in

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 07/20/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Haitink's critics have never been happy with his recessive podium personality, calling it bland and mediocre. But there are othes who love him for being the anti-Bernstein, relying on quiet musicality in place of showmanship. I often fall into that camp, but here Haitink goes too far. His live Brahms Third with the LSO barely exhibits an interpreatation. Haitink is doing more than sitck-waving, of course. He is gently shaping, balancing, and guiding.



Yet he does all three things so gently that it's hard to pay attention. I went back to his early Brhams with the Concertgebouw from the 1970s, expecting it to be much faster. But this London-based Third is surprisingly close to the early one. What's lacking is a convincing sense of drama, pace, and vitality. The orchestral playing is relaxed (how oculd it be otherwise?).



It's stingy to put each symphony one to a disc, but here we get the wonderful Serenade #2 as a generous filler. In his Philips cycle Haitink brought off one of the best performances ever recorded. He sitll has the knack--this reading isn't asleep on its feet like the symphony--but now it's 2 min. shorter--more "autumnal" as critics like to say when a good performance is underpowered.



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