Credits:

George Szell,The Cleveland Orchestra

Description:

Master Sell and the Cleveland Orchestra have reached the extreme point of 20th century orchestral performance. The complete Brahms symphonies, recorded over a three-year period in the 1960s, when George Sell and the Cleveland Orchestra were literally at the height of their powers, have been revived for the first time since 1988. Reflecting Sell's rigorous and respectful approach to music, the entire cycle is free from subjective emotion, maintaining a high level of dignity and highlighting Brahms's classical nature. The detail and refinement of the music is also quite remarkable, with every phrase, rhythm, and balance between parts perfectly controlled, and the clarity of sound and three-dimensional construction of the music is truly spectacular. This is a masterpiece of 20th century orchestral performance art that can never be duplicated.

Tracklisting:

1 [Disc 1] SYMPHONY NO.1 IN C MINOR. OP.68 1.UN POCO SOSTENUTO.ALLEGRO
2 [Disc 1] SYMPHONY NO.1 IN C MINOR. OP.68 2.ANDANTE SOSTENUTO
3 [Disc 1] SYMPHONY NO.1 IN C MINOR. OP.68 3.UN POCO ALLEGRETTO E GRAZIOSO
4 [Disc 1] SYMPHONY NO.1 IN C MINOR. OP.68 4.(FINALE)ADAGIO.PIU ANDANTE;ALLEGRO NON TROPPO.MA CON BRIO
5 [Disc 1] VARIATIONS ON A THEME BY HAYDN. OP.56A
1 [Disc 2] SYMPHONY NO.2 IN D MAJOR. OP.73 1.ALLEGRO NON TROPPO
2 [Disc 2] SYMPHONY NO.2 IN D MAJOR. OP.73 2.ADAGIO NON TROPPO
3 [Disc 2] SYMPHONY NO.2 IN D MAJOR. OP.73 3.ALLEGRETTO GRAZIOSO(QUASI ANDANTINO).PRESTO MA NON ASSAI
4 [Disc 2] SYMPHONY NO.2 IN D MAJOR. OP.73 4.ALLEGRO CON SPIRITO
5 [Disc 2] SYMPHONY NO.3 IN F MAJOR. OP.90 1.ALLEGRO CON BRIO-UN POCO SOSTENUTO
6 [Disc 2] SYMPHONY NO.3 IN F MAJOR. OP.90 2.ANDANTE
7 [Disc 2] SYMPHONY NO.3 IN F MAJOR. OP.90 3.POCO ALLEGRETTO
8 [Disc 2] SYMPHONY NO.3 IN F MAJOR. OP.90 4.ALLEGRO-UN POCO SOSTENUTO
1 [Disc 3] SYMPHONY NO.4 IN E MINOR. OP.98 1.ALLEGRO NON TROPPO
2 [Disc 3] SYMPHONY NO.4 IN E MINOR. OP.98 2.ANDANTE MODERATO
3 [Disc 3] SYMPHONY NO.4 IN E MINOR. OP.98 3.ALLEGRO GIOCOSO
4 [Disc 3] SYMPHONY NO.4 IN E MINOR. OP.98 4.ALLEGRO ENERGICO E PASSIONATO
5 [Disc 3] TRAGIC OVERTURE. OP.81
6 [Disc 3] ACADEMIC FESTIVAL OVERTURE. OP.80