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| Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4; Double Concerto; Serenade No. 2 | 
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| Creators: Timothy Hugh, Johannes Brahms, Bernard Haitink, London Symphony Orchestra, Gordan Nikolic
Label: Lso Live UK
Category: Music
List Price: $33.98
Buy New: $23.55
You Save: $10.43 (31%)
Buy New/Used from $20.53
Avg. Customer Rating:  (3 reviews)
Sales Rank: 76030
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 4
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.7 x 1
UPC: 822231107026
EAN: 0822231107026
ASIN: B000A6OC6C
Release Date: October 11, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 My First Brahms' Experience! April 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I feel compelled to write a review for this product. Partially because there have only been two so far, and because Classic Today's reviewers gave it an average of 7 out of 10. I think this production deserves much much more attention though. While this is the first real time that I have heard Brahms' symphonies and a couple select other compositions, I was just amazed at what great music this was, and how seemingly well Haitink did at conducting it. I especially found a great performance in the serenade. It was a perfect addition to the performance of the symphonies, which are also top notch. Now it really is one of my favorite classical music sets, and I highly recommend it as a wonderful place to find Brahms' best known creations as a starting point in his music. It is also much cheaper at emusic, which is where I found it and other great classical music, such as Vanska's performances of Beethoven's symphonies, which is another highly recommended set by myself, as well as many publications. But you will not be disappointed by this performance, I guarantee it!
 George February 14, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
Well recorded technically. Heard some instruments for the first time. The fourth movements of Symphony 1 and 4 were not as good as in other recordings. Much too slow and it was painful to listen to. This was not really worth the price.
Splendid Brahms Symphony Cycle from Haitink, London Symphony Orchestra May 12, 2006
24 out of 24 found this review helpful
The London Symphony Orchestra's LSO Live label finally offers as a box set acclaimed conductor Bernard Haitink's latest - and third - Brahms symphony cycle (The other two - which are still available - were recorded by Philips with Haitink conducting the Royal Concertgebouw and Boston Symphony orchestras in the 1970s and early 1990s.). Those interested in a fine Brahms symphony cycle by one of our greatest conductors will not be disappointed with this box set, which compiles the individual LSO Live CDs released over the past few years (These were recorded at live concert performances of Haitink conducting the London Symphony Orchestra primarily back in 2003 and 2004.).
Highlights include Haitink's spellbinding interpretations of the four Brahms symphonies and a brilliant performance by concertmaster Gordan Nikolitch and principal cellist Timothy Hugh of the Brahms Double Concerto. The London Symphony Orchestra's performances are absolutely impeccable, rivalling those from preeminent Dutch, German and Austrian orchestras.
Haitink offers a compelling interpretation of Brahms' 1st Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra in excellent form, which ranks as among the best performed and recorded I have heard. His latest interpretation is one which seems a bit less restrained than his earlier versions, but still replete with strict adherence to Brahms' tempi. His latest interpretation is, in some respects, more exciting than his earlier Philips recordings, emphasizing the rich sonorities and complex architecture of Brahms' score.
Without question Haitink's LSO Live recording is the best live recording of the Brahms 2nd Symphony I have heard, easily eclipsing Kurt Masur's acclaimed account with the New York Philharmonic recorded nearly a decade ago by Teldec. It is also Haitink's finest recording of this work, which he has recorded previously with both the Royal Concertgebouw and Boston Symphony orchestras. Haitink does a wonderful job emphasizing the textural richness of Brahms' score, while keeping the orchestra playing well at a very brisk tempo. However, the real treasure on this recording is the excellent performance of the Double Concerto by the London Symphony's Concertmaster and Principal Cellist which opens this CD. Theirs is a vibrant, rhapsodic performance which compares quite well - indeed I think may be better - than the recent Deutsche Grammophon recording featuring violinist Gil Shaham with Claudio Abbado conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. Once again the orchestra plays with much intensity and warmth, led ably by Haitink.
Bernard Haitink's LSO Live CD of the Brahms Serenade Number 2 and the 3rd Symphony, is recorded from concerts he conducted in 2002 (serenade) and 2003 (symphony). Brahms' Serenade Number 2 could be regarded as an early precursor to his symphonies, since it is a five-movement work. Haitink leads the London Symphony Orchestra in yet another excellent performance, noted for warm, rhapsodic playing from the string section. However, the best performance on this CD is that of Brahms' Third Symphony. This piece itself is a bit unusual for a 19th Century symphony, in the form of Allegro Andante Poco Allegretto Allegro. In its overall tone, the work itself is a bit "darker" than the Second Symphony, which many have regarded as Brahms' "Pastoral" symphony. Haitink excels in emphasizing the more melancholy aspects of the work, leading the London Symphony Orchestra in the best-conducted and recorded version of this symphony that I've heard so far, with the possible exception of Harnoncourt's Teldec recording with him conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. Haitink's latest recording seems a bit darker than Masur's New York Philharmonic Orchestra recording from Teldec, and perhaps, Harnoncourt's as well.
Haitink has conducted the London Symphony in an unusually warm, vibrant performance of the Brahms 4th Symphony, which is replete with excellent solo performances from the french horns, woodwinds and strings. I was especially pleased with Haitink's dignified, but still brooding, interpretation of the 4th movement, which comes across as a musical interlude between darkness and light. I personally regard this recording of the Brahms 4th symphony as the best currently available, in a crowded pack that includes distinguished recordings from the likes of Claudio Abbado, Herbert Blomstedt, Carlos Kleiber, Kurt Masur, and Kurt Sanderling.
Fans of Haitink's critically acclaimed 1970s Brahms symphony cycle may miss the ambient warmth of the Concertgebouw's main concert hall in this Brahms symphony cycle, but I will contend that these new recordings sound more vivid than the earlier Philips recordings. LSO Live is currently releasing Haitink's second Beethoven symphony cycle from live performances he conducted last year; I am eagerly awaiting these, suspecting that they will be regarded as among the finest Beethoven symphony recordings issued in the last few years. Later this year he will be visiting New York City, leading the London Symphony Orchestra in a Beethoven symphony cycle at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Not only do I look forward to this visit, but also to Haitink's future performances at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium as Principal Conductor of the venerable Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
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