Brahms - Symphony No. 4, Ein Deutsches Requiem - Jochum, Tennstedt, LPO (stereo)

 

Release Date: February 18, 1997 Label: EMI Number of discs: 2 Composer: Johannes Brahms Performer: Eugen Jochum, Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orch cd info/ buy

Review:

See previous post The same London Philharmonic that sounds bored out of its collective mind on Wolfgang Sawallisch's Brahms cycle here seems to be playing on the edge of its seat. Eugen Jochum's much more positive direction is certainly at least partially responsible. He's a tremendously inspiriting Brahms conductor, and these are performances full of fire and passion. The Fourth Symphony comes separately, coupled with Klaus Tennstedt's German Requiem, and at the twofer price, these are four CDs not to be missed. --David Hurwitz

 

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Johannes Brahms - Symphonies 1-3 - Eugen Jochum, LPO (stereo)

 

Release Date: February 18, 1997 Label: EMI Number of discs: 2 Composer: Johannes Brahms Performer: Eugen Jochum, London Philharmonic Orchestra  cd info/ buy

Review:

Jochum's readings of the first three Brahms Symphonies are lithe, sinewy performances with flexible tempi and phrasing that seem almost to presage the practices of the 'authentic' performers. Compared to Szell in this repertoire, for example, I find these Jochum readings to be just a bit less complacent, more heterogeneous and more spontaneous. Incisiveness is not Jochum's main objective (Furtwangler was Jochum's mentor, after all) while expressive leeway is. In the First Symphony, Jochum is not afraid to whip up a tempo here and there,  the coda of the Finale of the First Symphony being a good example. Some of the dynamic crescendos in the slow movement take one by surprise initially but come to seem natural after repeated hearings. By contrast, Jochum paces the third movement so that the climax does not run away from him. The natural way in which the first movement of the Second Symphony unfolds is totally disarming. There's charm here balanced with virility and Jochum does not hesitate to bend tempi to increase expressive effect. On first hearing, the Finale of the Second Symphony seems to be a bit lightweight but the tempo is Allegro con spirito and Jochum is content to let the music speak for itself without imposing any preconceived heroism. In the Third Symphony, the relative shortness of phrasing (compared with Szell) is apparent throughout. There's less of a heroic stride here than with Szell but more litheness and spontaneity. The relative objectivity of the third movement is most striking. Among versions that I've heard, Bruno Walter's seems closest to Jochum's approach to this symphony although Jochum is more volatile. In total, these performances are hard to resist. Given the excellence of the remastered analogue and the fine performances of the two overtures, this is a highly recommendable, nay, essential reissue.

 

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Bach JS - Mass in B Bwv 232, Missa Brevis Bwv 233 - Jochum

Bach JS - Mass in B Bwv 232, Missa Brevis Bwv 233 - Jochum
Chamber | Eac, single flac, no cue | log, cover | 2 CD, 742 MB
March 15, 1994 | Philips | RapidShare

There are three Eugene Jochum recordings of the Mass in B minor floating around out there: this is the first.

Jochum's reading is generally even-paced and flows easily. He avoids the stateliness of Klemperer's reading but does not fly by the listener in a mad rush as do Pearlman and Gardiner--overall, this is, in a word, a very solid and respectable performance. Jochum's choral forces are large (HUGE if you're used to the "one voice per part" approach) and at their fullest (such as the opening "Kyrie") the choirs and orchestra combined can generate a respectably powerful sound.

The soloists are all uniformly good. There is only a slight balance issue during the "Domine Deus" duet between soprano and tenor soloists.

Overall, Jochum's first recording is absolutely solid. For listeners approaching this masterwork for the first time, this is a great place to start.

CD Content
# Mass for 3 voices, chorus, orchestra & continuo in F major, BWV 233 (BC E6)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Munich Pro Arte Orchestra
with Gisela Litz, Leonard Hokanson, Eduard Melkus, Hermann Prey, Manfred Clement, Agnes Giebel
Conducted by Kurt Redel

# Mass in B minor, for 5 voices, 6-part chorus, violin, orchestra & continuo, BWV 232 (BC E1)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
with Kurt Richter, Wilhelm Carl Grimm, Hans Braun, Kim Borg, Hertha Topper, Kurt Kalmus, Karl Benzinger, Anton Nowakowski, Margarethe Scharitzer, Lois Marshall, Peter Pears, Josef Merz, Franz Hoger, Karl Bobzien, Rudolf Joachim Koeckert
Conducted by Eugen Jochum