The Greatest Recordings EVER! Brahms: Symphony No. 3

[@petroslinardos]

Dear Mildred, thank you for your memorable cameo. We hope one day you will present your insights on recordings of Rossini's Duetto buffo di due gatti.

[@loganfruchtman953]

No, what we need is a recording with Mildred and Finster of the Cat Duet. No question it’ll be the reference recording.

[@billdodd2361]

Thanks for this, Dave. I was forced to search my LP, CD, and file stashes and found that I did NOT have this old Columbia recording. The good news is I found a CD Quality download of 1,2,3, and 4; along with the Haydn Variations and the Academic for 13 bucks at Presto! I've been listening all day. You were right! Suberb 3 and all of the others, as well.

[@leestamm3187]

One of my favorites. I've always enjoyed Walter's Brahms in general, the 3rd in particular.

[@larrykayak]

I have to thank you for forcing me to reevaluate my opinion of Brahms 3 and introducing me to to Walter’s version. I play it constantly! Thank you Dave

[@MrJdaniel1371]

I regard the Brahms' 3 second mov't as one of those "perfect" creations, like the slow mov't of Bruckner's 8th. I like Walter's but -- for the 2nd mov't alone -- check out Wand's with the NDR, an early digital recording now available on RCA (DHM). It is my ideal. Glorious, "luminous" and "incandescent." I'm sure Walter's was as well, but...Columbia sound. That said, Walter's 1st mov't climax is IMHO sincerely painful and tragic in a way that Wand's is not. I also prefer Walter's pacing in the admittedly stream of consciousness 1st mov't.

[@markgibson6654]

I fell in love with a Karajan Berlin Phil recording of the 3rd back in the 60's and really liked one of the Wand renditions you recommended. I will have to check this one out. Thanks David!

[@jegog.]

Walter's 4th is also one of the Greatest Recordings EVER! You're right, Walter's brilliance with Brahms is that he fully understands the architecture of each movement.

[@mauricegiacche4776]

Just listened to Toscanini’s version with the Philharmonia. It’s curious that it isn’t in the same league as his Brahms 1, 2 & 4. Toscanini on his worse day is better than most contemporary performances. Dave, you changed my life with your recommendation of Walter’s Mahler 2 with the NYP. Thanks for all your recommendations and HUMOUR. Humour, even mirth, is a valuable commodity in these murky days.

[@walter9215]

Bruno Walter is great. I also love Guido Cantelli's performance.

[@johnmarchington3146]

David, I haven't always agreed with you as regards favoured recordings but in this case I agree with you 150 per cent. This is Bruno Walter at his very finest and a performance to cherish.

[@PaulBrower-bw4jw]

I heard this years ago and loved it. I now have recordings by Klemperer, Szell, and Karajan (his intense Brahms of the 1970's).

[@davidaltschuler9687]

That late Szell Brahms symphony cycle is inexplicably dull. And I'm a Szell fan!

[@kenneths9522]

Thank you, Dave for these great recommendations! Keep up the good work! I try and find these vintage performances on open reel tape, they sound excellent in that format.

[@davidaltschuler9687]

Hi Mr Hurwitz. This video forced me to realize I hadn't heard this recording in decades, such is the plight of the compulsive collector. I just brought my Friday afternoon listening to a close (I'm 7 hours ahead of you) with this Brahms 3. WOW, it has such vitality and so well recorded. I only wish he'd brought the quiet movements to a more gradual fade-out ending; it would have been even better. But the greatness here is clear. Be well.

[@jackdahlquist2977]

Of the two Walter recordings of the Brahms Third mentioned, I know only the one with the New York Philharmonic, and, yes, it is indeed fast. I can't wait to hear the one with the Columbia Symphony.

[@davidb.4374]

In this vein of "letting Brahms speak to us", Edward Gardner recently recorded a (in my opinion) superb 3rd on Chandos. I discovered B. Walter's version thanks to you Dave (probably one of my two or three favorite symphonies, all composers considered, and I had missed Walter ... What a mistake !). Unquestionably one of the great versions of the work. I hear a very natural "singing", and a kind of obviousness in the rhythmic conduct, in the general momentum, in the management of key moments.Thank you !

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Struggled for a long time to get into this symphony, including with Walter's, but started to see the light with Szell and then more prominently with István Kertész. I can't specifically say why as I've not listened for awhile. Anyway, interested to see what others have to say.

[@markmiller3713]

I have that giant Walter box, and it is a treasure.

[@furdiebant]

Wonderful wonderful wonderful third movement. On Walter being a contemporary of Brahms I think Walter said or it was written that he took over the Wiener Singverein from the great man himself!

[@b1i2l336]

YES! Walter is the ONLY conductor to get this elusive symphony "right!" It was a debacle for many great maestri!

[@fafner607]

Great video as usual. I agree that this recording and the entire cycle is wonderful. Do you or anyone else here have any thoughts on the old Clemens Krauss/Vienna Philharmonic recording of the Third?

[@andre_p]

I’ve tooted Walter’s horn in the Brahms 3 sweepstakes for almost 50 years. No other recording has come close to it (playing and sound are superb as well).

[@Mark-k1v7r]

For me, the Brahms Third is a three-way tie: Bruno Walter/CSO Jochum/Berlin Van Beinum/Concertgebouworkest If, at gunpoint, I HAD to take only one to that "desert island" (with power source and playback equipment, of course), it might be van Beinum's. Luckily there's no need to choose. Mark F.

[@davidwilson2214]

What about Jarvi/London Symphony? Im a brass player and love the playing but the interpretation is just average. But with great sound and brass I have always like it. Any comments?

[@Mark-k1v7r]

@@davidwilson2214 I was thinking primarily about conductor interpretation, as well as orchestral execution, and I didn't know his Brahms, but YES, Jarvi does get a gorgeous sound from the brass and the entire orchestra as well. I love his Medtner PCs 2 & 3 (to die for!) and other Russian works.

[@davidwilson2214]

@@Mark-k1v7r Thanks and I look forward to hearing the Medtner. Heard the Hyperion ones years ago and didn’t think too much of them. Should have known to try Jarvi on Chandos!!!

[@Mark-k1v7r]

@@davidwilson2214 Yes...IMHO it's much better than the Hyperion - enjoy !

[@TOONACEDRELA]

Ah, Brahms and 6/4! He owned it and Walter got it!

[@Smudge4199]

Best intro Dave we love Mildred

[@bloodgrss]

Agreed Dave, and as you know, Dvorak was the first to say so...

[@jams3975]

MILLDREEEED

[@classicaldame4372]

This was the first recording of Bruno Walter's I ever heard, and yes, I imprinted on it.

[@eddihaskell]

I am curious. Does Mildred have a favorite recording? My cats Liza the tuxie and Sasha (her sister) a Russian Blue just love Colin Davis's version of Berlioz Les Troyans with the LSO. Their vet through I was winding her up when I told her this -- and that they HATE Wagner. Her look was priceless. And I love the Walter / Brahms Third but I also love the Solti / Chicago recording I have.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

They are still sampling the collection and haven't made up their minds.

[@andre_p]

Walter rules by virtue of keeping things straight and natural while knowing exactly how and when to wear his heart on his sleeve. For a recording that sounds like a 2000-calorie banana split topped with chocolate syrup and gold glitter , Giulini and the WP is hard to beat. The antithesis of the Walter recipe, but there you go: the music can take it.

[@bbailey7818]

Yes, it is a great recording and interpretation. But since it is his 150th anniversary, I'd urge anyone who loves this symphony to hear Serge Koussevitzky's unerring, perfectly paced and exciting 1945 recording with the Boston Symphony. Sure, it's in mono, but so what, you can hear everything you need to hear clearly. Now, c'mon Sony, let's have that complete Koussie box! (Meanwhile, it can be found on KZbin.)

[@daviddavenport9350]

I still love the Szell Brahms 3 best....dry like a good claret....and the Orchestra plays much better than Walter's Columbia Sym.

[@Blumino]

Has Szell ever recorded Brahms 3?

[@richardsandmeyer4431]

@@Blumino Yes, he did. Twice in fact: 1951 with the Concertgebouw and 1964 with Cleveland.

[@richardfredrickson2929]

@@richardsandmeyer4431 I, too, love the Szell 1964 recording with Cleveland. The very long phrase that leads to the end of the 2nd mov't is incredible!. Heard him do Brahms 2nd with Cleveland at Carnegie. Sensational. Szell and Cleveland live were something else.

[@furdiebant]

Great recording!

[@brianwilliams9408]

Yeah. Szell and Walter. All you need for the third. For mono, Van Beinum.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

There are many Brahms 3's that I love, but I certainly can't argue your points. Walter is as fine as any. Even his mono NYP recording is wonderful. He just seems to get everything right. And yes....I have the Big-Box-O-Bruno and have listened to every minute of it at least once. BTW, I must confess that I imprinted on Abbado/Dresden (IPS anyone?), so I actually LIKE the exposition repeat, regardless of how jarring it may be. It's that very jarring effect that grabs my attention...makes it different.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I like it too, but I can go either way if the performance is great otherwise.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Ditto.

[@snapfinger1]

As with Ludwig van, Felix Weingartner OWNS the Brahms symphonies.

[@geshtin]

Which is the Furtwängler Brahms 3 that he gets right?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Right relatively speaking. The DG.

[@skeptical_Inquirer200]

I agree that Brahms' orchestration makes this symphony hard to pull off. So why didn't Schoenberg or some other master reorchestrate it?

[@eddihaskell]

Because the Gods were charitable and let good enough alone.

[@nattyco]

The 4th Symphony in that Walter series is also I think one of the greats. As for the 3rd, other than Walter, Kempe and Cantelli are the only other conductors I've heard who can provide for me a totally satisfying experience. There are a few who get close but, as you say, most fail convincingly.

[@ericbecquart]

The second by Walter CSO is absolutely radiant

[@nattyco]

@@ericbecquart To be sure Walter understood Brahms.