[SACD-R][OF] Karl Böhm (Bohm), Berliner Philharmoniker - Johannes Brahms: Symphony No.1 c-moll, Op.68 - 1959/2011 (Orchestral)

Conductor Karl Bohm recorded 1 of the great Brahms Symphony Cycles of all-time in the mid-1970s with the Vienna Philharmonic (available in the DG Collectors Edition Box Set series), but this disc features a 1960 2ch account of the 1st Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic. It’s only been a few listens, but this earlier performance outshines the latter & shows that Böhm, even early on in his career, was a master in revealing Brahms’ buried aural treasures.
Amazon review by Joey Joe Joe Jr. Shabadoo on March 11, 2011:
This Brahms first surprised me. Bohm was always a steady and reliable presence on the podium, capable of cleanly presenting and idiomatically interpreting the core German Romantic repertoire with consistent results; but he often lacked fire, especially in the recording studio. Bohm’s 1970s VPO cycle suffers from this fate, with somewhat sluggish tempi and a general impression of over-rehearsal in the playing of the orchestra. Imagine my surprise when listening to this earlier (1960) performance then, as Bohm’s best attributes – architectural integrity, clean and balanced lines, careful consideration to details within the framework of the bigger picture – are combined with real drive and drama. This has quickly become one of my favorite Brahms Firsts. Bohm often is accused of employing slow tempi but I don’t get that sense here at all. If anything tempi are on the faster side: while the introduction of the first movement is moderate the ensuing Allegro is taken at a speed approaching (and possibly surpassing!) Szell territory. The same applies to the exciting finale, which features some highly characterful brass playing and emphasis on the thematic contrast present, contrast which prompted Hans von Bulow to comment that the Finale resembled “Beethoven’s Tenth”.