Title: Brahms's sunniest work, done in relaxed fashion
Product review: For whatever reason, Karajan avoided recording either of Brahms's wonderful Serenades, and DG made up the slack with Abbado. Here he conducts the Berlin Phil. from 1983 in a very accomplished reading, marred somewhat by edgy early-digital sonics. There's an unpleasant sting to the violins at higher volume.Abbado has never considered Brahms a composer of conflict or inner struggle, thus missing a great deal of what makes him great, but the Serenade #1 is a thoroughly uncomplicated, optimistic work, so Abbado's approach works. My attention wandered a bit--everything was sweet and genial to a fault--and DG stingily put only this 49 min. piece on the CD. Most buyers, however, will probably encoutner this performance in Abbado's box set of the four symphonies or, better yet, on a bargain twofer generously filled with the Hungarian Dances, two overtures, and Serenade no. 2.
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