James Levine, Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Brahms Symphonies (K2 24-bit HD Master Import)

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James Levine, Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Brahms Symphonies (K2 24-bit HD Master Import)

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James Levine, Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Brahms Symphonies (K2 24-bit HD Master Import)

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James Levine is unquestionably a great Brahms conductor. His RCA complete symphony cycle with the Chicago Symphony is one of the best ever recorded, but long out of print and unfortunately is only available at present in Japan. The performances are stunning, taut, rhythmically sharp, and exciting. Indeed, this is unquestionably the finest complete Brahms with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at its pinnacle!

There are no disappointments anywhere in this set, and there are countless outstanding moments. The very opening of the First Symphony sets the tone: powerful, like Klemperer, but also propulsive. The finale of the Second Symphony shows exactly how to increase excitement toward the end without wild extremes of tempo (not that this can't be fun now and then). The Third and Fourth Symphonies are superb interpretations, particularly the Third, a work that Levine always did particularly well. The opening is wonderfully passionate, the renown Chicago Symphony wind section playing in the slow movement is gorgeous and magnificent in the finale epic. This last quality also pervades the Fourth's concluding passacaglia, but never at the expense of necessary forward momentum. The recorded sonics are big, rich and very flattering to the orchestra with plenty of transparency and textural directness.

RCA Japan's new K2 High Def encoding remastering technology is stunning, as good as it gets. Let us not forget that Levine was a student of Szell, and this set reveals him as a spectacular pupil. I only wish the set was available in the US or Europe instead of a scarce Japanese import.

American Record Guide