SearchsearchUseruser

Brahms: Symphony No. 2 - Järvi

Brahms: Symphony No. 2 - Järvi

Sony Classical (Japan)  SICC-10239

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Brahms: Symphony No. 2, Academic & Tragic Overtures

Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
Paavo Järvi (conductor)

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below.
As an Amazon Associate HRAudio.net earns from qualifying purchases.

bol.com
CDJapan
jpc
 

Add to your wish list | library

 

9 of 9 recommend this, would you recommend it?  yes | no

All
show
Recording
show
hide
DSD recording
Reviews (1)
show
hide

Review by John Broggio - January 1, 2017

This is the first instalment of a projected 4-disc set of Brahms' orchestral output, from Paavo Järvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, that apart from the symphonies will also see the appearance of the Haydn variations and the two serenades.

There are already fine accounts of the works on this disc, not least from the account in Brahms: Symphonies 1-4 - Manze that is in between the chamber orchestra scale on offer here and the full symphony orchestra size of Brahms: Symphony No. 2 - Fischer.

Like both these alternatives, Järvi opts to include the first movement's repeat, elongating the time to 20 minutes; all three conductors are within 17 seconds of one another, so all manage to convey the feeling of a waltz that is past its first flush of youth without trouble. Järvi, in common with their earlier outstanding Beethoven & Schumann cycles, requires relatively less pronounced rubato from his orchestra, certainly less than Ivan Fischer does from the superb Budapest Festival Orchestra. Andrew Manze is similarly modest in his application of rubato but unlike Järvi he applies it rather suddenly at times whereas both Järvi and Fischer manage to make their fluctuations sound an organic part of the performance. In comparison with Fischer, Järvi is more in favour of giving the musical momentum the room to develop whereas Fischer is scrupulous in keeping it in check. Each approach has its merits and pays off at different junctures in the score; in the joining passages, the momentum preferred by Järvi can make Fischer's more restrained approach sound mannered. Conversely, when Fischer loosens the reins, the music really takes off in a more accentuated fashion than it can under Järvi. Like the earlier Beethoven cycle, everything is played "just so", with few mannerisms and every phrase blossoming from the preceding utterance (but not at all like Karajan would have understood those words to mean!) Unlike Järvi's Beethoven, there is overtly audible vibrato except from obviously open strings (used by Brahms in the crescendo to the first climax). True, Järvi offers few points where ones ears are pricked, unlike Fischer, but in such well known and well played music that is not necessarily a negative connotation.

The slow movement brings the greatest contrast between the three conductors with Manze giving far more emphasis to the "adagio" than Järvi or Fischer, who lean more on the "non troppo" part of the tempo marking. The mood is therefore less sombre for Järvi or Fischer than Manze; neither Järvi or Fischer can be said to "gloss over" the more troubled nature of this music but the upside is that for the 12/8 sections, the music naturally unfolds an echo of the first movement. Just as in the first movement, Järvi manages all the rubato with grace so that any change feels completely "natural" and without undue emphasis that distracts from the overall musical argument. With beautifully clear playing, many felicities of Brahms' score that often pass unnoticed are audible without a musical spotlight being trained upon them.

The opening of the third movement draws ravishing playing from the DKB woodwind, fully worthy of their more famous cousins in Berlin, followed by delightful scampering strings where the antiphonal seating (a common feature for all these recordings) pays dividends. The restatement of the opening woodwind passage in the violins is arguably a little mannered but not obtrusively so. Calm is restored by the woodwinds reclaiming "their" tune and the violins give a delightful swoop in their achingly beautiful last counter melody.

The finale is not the fastest on disc but neither is it sluggish. Järvi's account is closest in "fast tempo" to Fischer's but doesn't relax as much in the slower passages (Järvi takes "tranquillo" as a mood rather than a markedly different tempo). Here the smaller forces allow the trumpets and horns to "punch" through the textures as they did in their Beethoven & Schumann cycles without the need to force their tone or volume - it's a lovely effect that neatly tips the wink to Brahms' inspirations. In the lead up to and the beginning of the recapitulation, there is a period of most magical sustained pianissimo playing from the whole orchestra that gives way to a thrilling celebration of sound moments later and, in the coda, every single quaver run from the cellos & basses upwards is audible to end on a note of complete elation.

After a respectful pause, the mood immediately takes a turn towards more stormy fare in the Tragic Overture (there is a misprint on the back of the set and in the booklet where it claims it is the Academic Festival Overture). The translucency of texture is a marvel and beyond even the wonders achieved by Fischer; Järvi achieves what one imagines Abbado would have sought in Luzern had he chosen to address more of the music of Brahms there. Here, Järvi makes more of a contrast with the "molto più moderato" section and effectively postpones the "tempo primo" instruction until the music returns into transformed Beethoven 9 Scherzo territory; effective but arguably not what Brahms intended. The Academic Festival Overture brings the disc to a glorious close. Some conductors like to consciously "restrain" the momentum of the opening motifs whenever the occur, Järvi feels no such need and it results in a completely fresh account of this uncharacteristically brilliant Brahms scoring.

One factor that must be addressed is that Fischer's symphonic forces bring a weight and lushness that a chamber orchestra, no matter how good they may be (and the ~50 players of the DKB are incredibly good), simply cannot be ignored. That is not to say that the DKB tone is in any way lightweight or lacking in lustre but side-by-side it is a cleaner sound than the already miraculously "pure" tones that Fischer obtains from the BFO. Both Järvi's DKB and Fischer's BFO are in a noticeably different (and higher) league of playing when compared directly to Manze's Helsingborg forces (good though they are). Both Järvi and Fischer are also afforded a wider dynamic range by their recording teams; Manze's account on CPO sounds compressed to these ears by comparison and Järvi nor Fischer are seldom indulging in the "hyper-pianissimo" style of music making in this repertory.

Taking everything into account, this is promises well for the remaining 3 discs (and will happily supplement Fischer's wonderful account of the same music on my shelves), this is an easy "first choice" for a chamber-orchestra sized approach to this wonderful, largely joyful music.

Copyright © 2017 John Broggio and HRAudio.net

Performance:

Sonics (Multichannel):

stars stars
Comments (22)
show
hide

Comment by hiredfox - October 5, 2016 (1 of 22)

This recording carries the serial number SICC-10239 and will be released on 26/10/2016

Comment by William Hecht - October 9, 2016 (2 of 22)

As usual Sony has raised a finger or two to US collectors. $44, or $30 + shipping from Japan, I don't think so. It's not like we're short of good Brahms performances on sacd.

Comment by hiredfox - October 16, 2016 (3 of 22)

On the face of it Japanese consumers get a very rough deal on SACD prices but the demand must be there to justify the prices being asked of them.

Like you Bill, I buy a small number of discs regularly from CDJapan simply because they are not available here in the UK. The Universal single layer re-masters of old favourites are of special appeal to me simply because by some magic - I know not what - they are the best sounding stereo SACD money can buy. Many of Sony's SACD emanate only from Japan these days as well so, imagine the plight of colleagues and friends over here with our beloved £ sterling trading at around US$1.20 and Euro 1.13 !

We are not yet quite at the point of bread on the table or SACD but as you say (and as 'they' say these days) everyone has red lines.

Comment by fausto kantiano - April 11, 2018 (4 of 22)

just received this and played it for the first time yesterday evening. It's an absolutely marvellously sounding disc, DSD recorded (as it states on the back cover; as with the Beethoven recordings, the Polyhymnia team is involved). Looking forward to the first symphony, out soon, and of course the remaining two.

Comment by hiredfox - April 13, 2018 (5 of 22)

I had hoped that Presto would stock this series as Amazon prices are sky high from using Japanese sources. One might as well stick with CDJapan as using Amazon does not make your purchase cheaper or immune from import tariffs and duties.

Comment by fausto kantiano - April 13, 2018 (6 of 22)

I bought my copy from jpc (around 40 Euros incl. of postage, but that's within Germany)

Comment by William Hecht - April 13, 2018 (7 of 22)

I know I've gotten old and cranky, but I just bought three discs of otherwise unavailable music (on sacd that is) from Dutton for the same price as this single disc of warhorse repertoire, and that includes shipping from the UK. Why does anyone continue to patronize these thieves?

Comment by hiredfox - April 15, 2018 (8 of 22)

What frustrates is that the Sony Classical recordings are exceptional in SQ and recorded in DSD. Not having easy or fair access to recordings from a leading European orchestra of our time in their pomp is more than annoying. Sounds crazy to me that they'd go to the trouble of releasing SACD when most others have thrown in the towel and then restrict access to it when obviously there is a global appetite for the discs.

Comment by fausto kantiano - April 15, 2018 (9 of 22)

it is rather odd indeed that these recordings are not more widely available, given that the previous Beethoven cycle with the very same forces was a fair success (I assume). But I think that outside Japan, it seems, and apart from the visitors to this site and a few others, SACD is practically dead in commercial terms--let's admit it, no one else is interested anymore in SACD per se. And when now even relatively niche labels such as Channel Classics and now also Myrios throw in the towel, I'm pleased that Sony Japan sticks to their format, at least for a while, and I'll gladly put up the money if I think it's worth it (next instalments this and next month: Brahms: Symphony No. 1 - Järvi and also Järvi's Bruckner #1, the latter not DSD though)

Comment by hiredfox - April 16, 2018 (10 of 22)

One would have expected that Sony of all people as co-inventors / promoters of DSD and SACD would have done everything in their power to support their customers who bought into their concept and stayed loyal to them throughout, having discovered for themselves that that there was rather more to it than hype and spin.

Meanwhile I remain in exasperated despair of those who still embrace RBCD as a valid alternative way of listening to music as they "cannot hear a difference". Whatever closes their minds clearly affects their hearing as well.

Comment by Bruce Zeisel - April 16, 2018 (11 of 22)

Well HiredFox,

SONY is indeed a strange entity. Back when they funded the Boston Symphony's construction of the truly excellent Seiji Ozawa Hall in Tanglewood, they were without question, "the good guys". Then an American gained enormous influence and things went to hell in a hand basket.

I am frowning in bewildered perplexity at your comment on people who eschew RBCD. There are vinyl-o-philes who eschew anything digital. I used to be one until I heard an SACD I think it was Hilary Hahn playing Brahms. That was back when SONY was issuing single layer SACDs concurrently or just after release of the RBCDs.

So I don't get it about "not hearing any difference". I remember reading Hi Fi News and purchasing first LPs and then CDs that earned their A*- 1* ranking and wondering how the devil they could rank some of those CDs as 1* for sound quality. I regarded them as pretty abysmal. I terminated my subscription and continued to purchase as many LPs as I could. Then came the realization that digitally recorded LPs were the worst of two worlds. So I began to collect CDs which as you (must) know did improve over time. But until SACDs came out my LPs really ruled my roost sound wise.

Now, for me, SACDs rule!

Comment by hiredfox - April 16, 2018 (12 of 22)

Bruce, I have no idea where that word came from :-(

I cannot remember what I thought I had typed but it wasn't that. (probably 'embrace')

Thanks a bunch Apple for confusing everyone. I'll correct it.

Comment by Tony Reif - April 6, 2020 (13 of 22)

There's a really excellent 90 minute video on YouTube of Jarvi and the Kammerphilharmonie Bremen brushing up the 4 symphonies for their fall 2018 performances in Paris. The film is called The Brahms Code and comes in two parts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-K3Gan-NA0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlI_k3RCADs

I learned a lot about Jarvi's view of Brahms and about his approach to conducting; there were also pertinent comments by various members of the orchestra about their parts. Jarvi knew what he needed to get from the band but he also allowed soloists quite a lot of freedom to make it happen in their own way. It's a revealing portrait of a conductor and a devoted band working together in the moment to bring out the best in each other and the music. (The performances are available on a video Blu-Ray.)

Comment by hiredfox - April 8, 2020 (14 of 22)

Thanks Tony, we have plenty of time to catch up on these clips now

Comment by Adrian Quanjer - April 8, 2020 (15 of 22)

For me, Paavo Järvi and The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen was at the time one of the best combinations in Germany, both in terms of playing and recording. The sound of his Beethoven cycle tops all the rest. RCA did a remarkable job (with the help of Polihymnia!). And if you like his style, it’s hard to find any better. His Beethoven piano concerti with the Japanese Ikuyo Nakamichi at the piano is pretty good as well. This is what I thought some eight years ago: Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1, 2 & 4 - Nakamichi / Järvi
I have the Schumann survey, but not Brahms. Perhaps worth investigating.

Comment by hiredfox - April 10, 2020 (16 of 22)

Totally agree with you. Never miss one of their recordings. There is another disc in the survey of the PCs.

Comment by Adrian Quanjer - April 11, 2020 (17 of 22)

Have that one, too.

For the record: I believe that Jârvi, next to his other duties and recent appointment at the Zurich Tonhalle, still holds the position of Artistic Director of Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.

BTW, there is a recent Blu-Ray version (Presto Classical and Amazon), recorded live in Paris (2018, released 2019): “The Brahms Code”. (Brahms: Symphonies 1-4, Paavo Jârvi, Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Release Date: 15th Nov 2019, Catalogue No: 735004. Label: C Major).

Comment by hiredfox - April 11, 2020 (18 of 22)

Järvi's work with the NHK orchestra in Tokyo is equally meritorious and although expensive to import each new recording is unmissable.

Comment by Adrian Quanjer - July 1, 2020 (19 of 22)

I finally got my copy of Brahms 2 / Järvi and I totally agree with John B's review. I have and have had many accounts from LP via cassette (for in the car), RBCD and several SACD's. I have the Brahms Code Blu-Ray as well. This one now tops my list (I'm a Paavo Järvi fan). Great sound, too. A shame really that the Hi-Res version could not be made available outside Japan. The more so because all those involved, orchestra, conductor, venue, private financial support, and engineering are European.

Comment by DYB - July 12, 2020 (20 of 22)

The only thing about these Paavo Brahms recordings is that he uses a chamber orchestra. It's a very different experience than listening to a big band. For a big Romantic sound I think Kurt Sanderling's Staatskapelle Dresden, Istvan Kertesz's Vienna set (both available from Tower Japan on SACD) and the recent Riccardo Chailly Gewandhaus (hi-res download) remains my top (3) choices, although Klemperer's Philharmonia recordings (EMI SACD) are also still superb after all these years.

1  /  2