The music of Brahms held an important place in Sir John Barbirolli’s repertoire, and these recordings of the symphonies, made with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1966 and 1967, stand as one of the peaks of his discography. Barbirolli’s relationship with this music is rooted in his time as an orchestral cellist, and these performances are notable for their rich, ripe sonorities and expansive warmth. The two mighty Piano Concertos were also recorded in 1967 in distinguished versions with Daniel Barenboim. Playing the violin concerto here, Fritz Kreisler as a young man had been part of Brahms’s outer circle in Vienna and drew his approach to this music straight from the source. Last but not least is the Double Concerto, of which Geraint Lewis wrote in Gramophone, “The great underestimated Alfredo Campoli showed what a rich tone and innate musicality he had at his command alongside an equally eloquent André Navarra.”
CD 1
01
Symphony No 1 In C Minor Op 68 I Un Poco Sostenuto – Allegro
02
Symphony No 1 In C Minor Op 68 Ii Andante Sostenuto
03
Symphony No 1 In C Minor Op 68 Iii Un Poco Allegretto E Grazioso
04
Symphony No 1 In C Minor Op 68 Iv Finale Adagio
Wiener Philharmoniker
Sir John Barbirolli
05
Tragic Overture Op 81
Wiener Philharmoniker
Sir John Barbirolli
CD 2
01
Symphony No 2 In D Major Op 73 I Allegro Non Troppo
02
Symphony No 2 In D Major Op 73 Ii Adagio Non Troppo
03
Symphony No 2 In D Major Op 73 Iii Allegretto Grazioso Quasi Andantino
04
Symphony No 2 In D Major Op 73 Iv Allegro Con Spirito
Wiener Philharmoniker
Sir John Barbirolli
05
Symphony No 3 In F Major Op 90 I Allegro Con Brio
06
Symphony No 3 In F Major Op 90 Ii Andante
07
Symphony No 3 In F Major Op 90 Iii Poco Allegretto
08
Symphony No 3 In F Major Op 90 Iv Allegro
Wiener Philharmoniker
Sir John Barbirolli
CD 3
01
Symphony No 4 In E Minor Op 98 I Allegro Non Troppo
02
Symphony No 4 In E Minor Op 98 Ii Andante Moderato
03
Symphony No 4 In E Minor Op 98 Iii Allegro Giocoso
04
Symphony No 4 In E Minor Op 98 Iv Allegro Energico Espressivo
Wiener Philharmoniker
Sir John Barbirolli
05
Academic Festival Overture Op 80
Wiener Philharmoniker
Sir John Barbirolli
06
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Thema Chorale St Antoni
07
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Variation I Poco Più Animato
08
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Variation Ii Più Vivace
09
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Variation Iii Con Moto
10
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Variation Iv Andante Con Moto
11
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Variation V Vivace
12
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Variation Vi Vivace
13
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Variation Vii Grazioso
14
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Variation Viii Presto Non Troppo
15
Variations On A Theme By Haydn Op 56a St Antoni Chorale Finale
Wiener Philharmoniker
Sir John Barbirolli
CD 4
01
Piano Concerto No 1 In D Minor Op 15 I Maestoso
02
Piano Concerto No 1 In D Minor Op 15 Ii Adagio
03
Piano Concerto No 1 In D Minor Op 15 Iii Rondo Allegro Non Troppo
Daniel Barenboim, New Philharmonia Orchestra
CD 5
01
Piano Concerto No 2 In B-flat Major Op 83 I Allegro Non Troppo
02
Piano Concerto No 2 In B-flat Major Op 83 Ii Allegro Appassionato
03
Piano Concerto No 2 In B-flat Major Op 83 Iii Andante
04
Piano Concerto No 2 In B-flat Major Op 83 Iv Allegro Grazioso
Daniel Barenboim, New Philharmonia Orchestra
CD 6
01
Violin Concerto In D Major Op 77 I Allegro Non Troppo Cadenza By Fritz Kreisler
02
Violin Concerto In D Major Op 77 Ii Adagio
03
Violin Concerto In D Major Op 77 Iii Allegro Giocoso Ma Non Troppo Vivace
Fritz Kreisler, violin, London Philharmonic Orchestra
04
Double Concerto For Violin And Cello In A Minor Op 102 I Allegro
05
Double Concerto For Violin And Cello In A Minor Op 102 Ii Andante
06
Double Concerto For Violin And Cello In A Minor Op 102 Iii Vivace Non Troppo
Alfredo Campoli (violin), André Navarra (cello)
Hallé Orchestra