Search - Johannes Brahms, Marek Janowski, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra :: Brahms: Symphony No. 4; 8 Hungarian Dances [Hybrid SACD]

A direct and taut Brahms 4th, very well played and recorded

Mr Darcy | Australia | 01/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Were I asked to recommend a single recording of the Brahms 4th Symphony, especially to someone for whom the work is new, I may well recommend this live recording of November 2007 with the excellent Pittsburgh Symphony under Marek Janowski.



Janowski's approach is essentially direct, with middle of the road tempos and consistency of pulse. It is tautly held together, but never cold - phrasing is pure but warm. Balances are very impressive - never is there a sense of one part of the orchestra being drowned out and, indeed, this performance reveals a level of instrumental detail and texture that is hard to match in my experience (thanks, no doubt, to the conductor as well as the recording team at Pentatone). The sound, overall, is full and clear, quite close but not unduly so (I listened to it in SACD stereo). And the playing of the orchestra? Superb - all departments.



The first movement sets forth in simple, almost understated fashion, a quality which I began to appreciate more and more in subsequent listenings in the context of a musical journey conveying a cumulative rise in tension. The transition to the coda and the coda itself are done very satisfyingly, showing ample contrast with the music that preceded it in tension and power but still presented as the natural culmination of the movement. A point of interest is that at the commencement of the coda Janowski appears to slow down the tempo just a touch, then shortly returns to a slightly quicker pace for the remainder. I didn't find this at all disruptive because it's subtle, and what is especially important is that Janowski ensures organic cohesion with the lead-up to the coda by resisting the temptation to speed up the tempo excessively, which can vulgarise the effect and, indeed, dissipate tension (Klemperer, Solti and Abbado are among the sinners). Karajan, in his performances from 1973 (DVD) and 1977 (CD), or even in his last recording (unjustly maligned in my view), remains the master in handling this coda in a way that creates enormous intensity whilst maintaining absolute continuity with the preceding music. Giulini (VPO) is also impressive in this respect.



Janowski keeps the second movement on a fairly tight rein with a flowing tempo, consistent with his overall approach. There is no sense of rushing, however, and Janowski is clearly sensitive to the movement's beauties. What particularly impresses is the delicacy of the playing, which lends an intimate, chamber like atmosphere to proceedings. By comparison, Karajan, who adopts a similarly flowing pace, is more stoic, although this works in the context of Karajan's spare approach to the entire work.



The third movement is muscular and weighty as well as energetic, played with great brio. Janowski is more ebullient than Karajan who takes a distinctively grim view of this movement.



The final movement is delivered forcefully and incisively, similar to Karajan, but not quite as driven as, say, Carlos Kleiber (VPO). Following the movement's quiet interlude, Janowski unleashes the Pittsburgh brass to thrilling effect as the movement gains in tension and momentum.



That Janowski does not interpret the score in a new or particularly individual way might be a factor for some (especially collectors) in deciding whether to purchase this CD. Janowski's account may not be as stark as some (eg Karajan/BPO) or as grand as others (eg Giulini/VPO), but he nonetheless conveys the music's austere and noble spirit with freshness and attention to detail, aided by stellar playing and excellent recorded sound. The absence of idiosyncracy may well be a huge plus for some, and Janowski's directness of approach does not translate into the routine and superficial (unlike, for example, Nagano in his fairly recent recording on harmonia mundi). It's a performance that I could turn to again and again for pleasure.











"

Wow...sonic splendor!

J. Milton | MA | 11/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Greatly paced and stunningly recorded. Very realistic sound on a good system. Phrasing is just right. If you like Brahms, this recording will not disappoint. (SACD surround- caveat emptor)"