This complete Brahms cycle from the year 1978 does more than consolidate a chapter in the recording history of the Eterna classical music label. It also returns to the original sound of the (former) Berlin Symphony Orchestra, for which the conductor of this recording - Günther Herbig - had so much regard. In a time-consuming process, the analogue Eterna master tapes have been newly processed and remastered for the first time in over 20 years. Günther Herbig's time as principal conductor of the orchestra ended in 1983 after a dispute with the leading political organs of the GDR. His move to the USA fast-tracked his international career. He was appointed head of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and later directed the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Tours to Japan, South America and Australia and conducting commissions with major European and American orchestras added lustre to his international reputation. Günther Herbig celebrates his 85th birthday on November 30, 2016. Today's Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra was founded in 1952 as the Berlin Symphony Orchestra in East Berlin (the Soviet sector of the city) and won international recognition under the direction of Kurt Sanderling in the 1960s and 1970s. Sanderling faced significant hurdles to the development of the orchestra - once the Berlin Wall went up on August 13, 1961, about two thirds of it's musicians were no longer available, as they lived in West Berlin - making his achievement all the greater. The orchestra will mark it's 65th anniversary in 2017. The Brahms cycle thus provides ample reason to celebrate - as a document of the teamwork between the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra and as proof of the excellence of it's former principal conductor - and because, for the first time, it's original sound has been faithfully renewed.
4 IV. Adagio - Più Andante - Allegro Non Troppo, Ma Con Brio - Più Allegro
5 Tragic Overture in D minor, Op. 81
- Disc 2 -
1 I. Allegro Non Troppo
2 II. Adagio Non Troppo
3 III. Allegretto Grazioso (Quasi Andantino)
4 IV. Allegro Con Spirito
5 I. Allegro Con Brio
6 II. Andante
7 III. Poco Allegretto
8 IV. Allegro
- Disc 3 -
1 I. Allegro Non Troppo
2 II. Andante Moderato
3 III. Allegro Giocoso - Poco Meno Mosso - Tempo I
4 IV. Allegro Energico E Passionato - Più Allegro
5 Thema. Chorale St. Antoni: Andante
6 Variation 1: Poco Più Animato
7 Variation 2: Più Vivace
8 Variation 3: Con Moto
9 Variation 4: Andante Con Moto
10 Variation 5: Vivace
11 Variation 6: Vivace
12 Variation 7: Grazioso
13 Variation 8: Presto Non Troppo
14 Finale: Andante
- Disc 4 -
1 Vorgefühle
2 Vergangenes
3 Farben
4 Peripetie
5 Das Obligative Rezitativ
6 Introduktion: Mäßig Ruhig
7 Thema: Molto Moderato
8 Variation 1: Moderato
9 Variation 2: Langsam
10 Variation 3: Mäßig
11 Variation 4: Walzertempo
12 Variation 5: Bewegt
13 Variation 6: Andante
14 Variation 7: Langsam
15 Variation 8: Sehr Rasch
16 Variation 9: L'istesso Tempo, Aber Etwas Langsamer
17 Finale: Mäßig Schnell
18 Funeral Music for String Orchestra
19 Livre Pour Orchestre
This complete Brahms cycle from the year 1978 does more than consolidate a chapter in the recording history of the Eterna classical music label. It also returns to the original sound of the (former) Berlin Symphony Orchestra, for which the conductor of this recording - Günther Herbig - had so much regard. In a time-consuming process, the analogue Eterna master tapes have been newly processed and remastered for the first time in over 20 years. Günther Herbig's time as principal conductor of the orchestra ended in 1983 after a dispute with the leading political organs of the GDR. His move to the USA fast-tracked his international career. He was appointed head of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and later directed the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Tours to Japan, South America and Australia and conducting commissions with major European and American orchestras added lustre to his international reputation. Günther Herbig celebrates his 85th birthday on November 30, 2016. Today's Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra was founded in 1952 as the Berlin Symphony Orchestra in East Berlin (the Soviet sector of the city) and won international recognition under the direction of Kurt Sanderling in the 1960s and 1970s. Sanderling faced significant hurdles to the development of the orchestra - once the Berlin Wall went up on August 13, 1961, about two thirds of it's musicians were no longer available, as they lived in West Berlin - making his achievement all the greater. The orchestra will mark it's 65th anniversary in 2017. The Brahms cycle thus provides ample reason to celebrate - as a document of the teamwork between the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra and as proof of the excellence of it's former principal conductor - and because, for the first time, it's original sound has been faithfully renewed.
