Brahms: Violin Concerto; Alto Rhapsody; Tragic Overture; Academic Festival Overture

Brahms: Violin Concerto; Alto Rhapsody; Tragic Overture; Academic Festival Overture

Brahms: Violin Concerto; Alto Rhapsody; Tragic Overture; Academic Festival Overture
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CD Details

Composer: Johannes Brahms
Conductor: Eduard Van Beinum
Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Performer: Arthur Grumiaux
Performer: Aafje Heynis
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2007-08-01
Music Label: Eloquence Australia
Soundtracks:
  1. Violin Concerto In D Major, Op.77
  2. Academic Festival Orchestra
  3. Tragic Overture
  4. Rhapsody For Alto, Chorus & Orchestra, Op.53

Music reviews of Brahms: Violin Concerto; Alto Rhapsody; Tragic Overture; Academic Festival Overture

Music Review: One of the top performances of the Brahms Violin Concerto
Rating: 5 Stars

Grumiaux is not one normally associated with the Brahms concerto as one of its prime expositors: I tend to think of Oistrakh, or Szeryng, or Milstein or Heifetz. However, this is a magical collaboration. Recorded in 1958 when Grumiaux was still in his prime, he sounds more at ease with the technical challenges of the work than he would in his later (inferior) recording with Colin Davis. His trademark gossamer tone and faithful articulation aptly complement the tonal beauty of the Concertgebouw - one of the best orchestras in the world - led by a noted Brahmsian, Eduard van Beinum, who provides wonderfully supportive and idiomatic accompaniment. If you want further proof of van Beinum's Brahms credentials, listen to his amazing Brahms Symphony No. 4. But back to the concerto: Tempi are brisk, rhythms firm, with architectural integrity a focus for both conductor and soloist. The result is surely one of the finest Brahms concertos on disc, which along with recordings by the aforementioned Oistrakh and Szeryng, is one of a select few performances worthy of being in the discussion for best recording of the work, ever.

The fillers are nice, although van Beinum's Tragic Overture could use some more momentum. However the Academic overture is well done, and the Alto Rhapsody with the gifted Aafje Heynis (the only selection in mono) is absolutely splendid. Liner notes are weak, as with every other Eloquence release I've encountered, but I can live with that for performances of this caliber.

The sound is very good early Philips stereo, warm and full with good dynamic range. It certainly doesn't sound like a 50 year old recording. Kudos to the Philips engineers, they turned out some real gems in the days of early stereo and this is surely one of them.

This is a great Brahms concerto, and if someone told me I could only have this recording of it for the rest of my life, I wouldn't complain. Those in search of the "grail" Brahms VC should also investigate:

Szeryng/Monteux/LSO on this RCA boxset
Oistrakh/Szell/CO on EMI
Szeryng/Dorati/LSO on MLP
Milstein/Fistoulari/PO on Angel
Heifetz/Reiner/CSO on RCA
Oistrakh/Klemperer/PO on EMI

Enjoy!
More Brahms: Violin Concerto; Alto Rhapsody; Tragic Overture; Academic Festival Overture free music reviews:
1

Description of Brahms: Violin Concerto; Alto Rhapsody; Tragic Overture; Academic Festival Overture

Considered by Many to Be Grumiaux's Best Recording of the Brahms Violin Concerto, this Performance, by Turn Tender and Muscular, Receives Its First International Release on CD. The Concertgebouw is in Glorious Form under Van Beinum and Aafje Heynis is an Amber-toned Soloist in the Inspiring Alto Rhapsody.

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