EMI HMV ASD 461: Another Kempe Brahms rarity

EMI HMV ASD 461

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor

Rudolf Kempe, conductor
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Pressing: UK, ED1, white/gold


Condition: NM

Date first published: 1962

Stampers: 
2YEA 543-5
2YEA 544-2

Performance: 8/10

Sound: 7/10

Price range: $45-426 (mean $227) on popsike.com

Comments: Another Kempe Brahms rarity.  This one might be my favorite, mainly because this is my favorite of the four symphonies.  Very decent tube sound on this recording.  While there is nothing spectacular to recall with either interpretation or sound quality (I think I'd still go with Klemperer or Szell on Columbia SAX), it is still an enjoyable listen, and there were no obvious defects to my pressing that I can report.  Presentation somewhat distant, giving more of a middle-of-the-hall seating.  I know there is a World Record Club reissue out there.  Anybody heard that and can comment?

World Record Club
ST932

Stampers: 
2YEA 543-5 (2-A)
2YEA 544-2 (1-A)

Performance: 10/10

Sound: 9/10

Here we have the World Record Club (WRC) reissue with the same matrix/stampers. Ralph J. Steinberg on Amazon in a review titled an Unsung Giant, states "Rudolf Kempe was, in my opinion, the greatest conductor of German music in the years following the death of Furtwangler. Although more reserved in his music making, he also shared with Furtwangler a tempo fluidity that never impaired the structure of the work at hand, on the contrary, it emphasized it." Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer Michael Brad Richman states the CD was "captured in brilliant golden-age stereo sound. ....(and) illustrates Kempe as a top-tier Brahmsian." I've never taken to the Brahms 4 until this LP. This and Kempe's Brahms 1 are not to be missed. I just love this World Record Club LP and its got the same cover!( WRC update by Meles)

Comments

  1. ASD461 Brahms Symphony 4 RPO Kempe WRC ST 932 ACANTA 40.22394 $350

    So where do we go for Brahsm 4. Reiner chesky (readers digest)? Cheesy has Horrenstein Brahms 1. Sadly I did not many of the Chesky after a few mediocre ones.

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    1. There is also the Munch BSO on RCA that I haven't heard in a while but I think may be respectable. Adrian Boult did all the Brahms on EMI ASD ... I ought to pull out the 4th again for another listen. I think it was paired with the Academic Festival Overture. Kertesz recorded the Brahms for Decca, too.

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    2. I Have both the ASD W/G and the WRC pressing. They both have the same stamper numbers 5/2 but the WRC sounds less cleaner and crisper. I think this is down to condition rather than pressing

      As for alternatives, yes the Klemperer SAX recordings are good but I prefer the Barbirolli recordings on S/C ASD 2401, 2421, 2432 & 2433. The Decca pressed Telefunken Keilberth 2 & 3 - SMA 87 & 89 are also quite enjoyable

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    3. I'm not heard those Barbirolli, though I think I've seen them surface. Do you prefer the interpretations or sound quality or both to these? In terms of interpretation, James Levine and the BSO released a complete cycle on late RCA that is really nice. Soundwise, not much to laud, but these are great performances. The sound might be actually better on the digital remaster.

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  2. I meant to say the WRC sounds less distorted, cleaner and crisper. Somehow the distortion disappeared!

    The Barbirolli Brahms are well recorded and the performances are warmer than those of Klemperer or Solti. I think there may also be supercut reissues of them available.

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    1. Listening to the WRC and it is just great. I love Kempe's Brahms 1 (just have CFP) and now I love this. The sound is excellent on my system. In my book a 10 for performance and 9- for sound for the lowly WRC. Great EMI tube sound.

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  3. The only Barbrolli/VPO worth getting is Symphony 3/Haydn Var (ASD2432 - my 1st Full-Price LP, in 1969)
    The 4th is a flop...wouldn't bother with the 2nd, either.

    The best-sounding 4th is possibly the 1950 Krips/LSO -1957 reissue on LXT5368 - also cleaner/less distorted than Reiner/RPO in the UK R-D box - but that's distinctly better than Kempe's RPO LP...(recording/performance) whichever slab of vinyl you get.

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    1. I see a Brahms shoot-out in the works here.

      Andy, I think I may look out for that WRC now, if sound quality is improved and the disc is inexpensive.

      Tin Ear - you love your mono's, that's for sure. I have that Krips on CD in the Decca Original Masters box set release from the mid-2000's. I've not been a big fan of orchestral mono, since it makes me feel a bit congested in the head, but perhaps there may be less distortion than some of the stereo recordings.

      If we're discussing the 4th, I may have to break out of the analog field and also recommend either Gunter Wand and the NDR Symphony Orchestra (RCA) or Carlos Kleiber and the VPO on DG, both in digital.

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  4. The WRC and the ASD have the same matrix / pressing numbers so I think the difference n SQ is down to usage / groove condition.That said the WRC records are still at bargain prices although some dealers are cottoning on to the fact they often have the same matrix / pressing numbers as some very expensive records.

    Coincidently Kingsway has two sets of Brahms symphonies at premium prices and some London and Decca versions of the same recording highlighting the ridiculous premium for one that is perceived to be better sounding but apart from label and sleeve is exactly the same record.

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  5. Agree to disagree wow! So Barbirolli ASD2431 Brahms 3 is good place to start with Barbirolli. I've got the Boult 4 and should check it out.

    BRAHMS-SYMPHONY NO. 1-HORENSTEIN-CHESKY CR 19 is on Salvatore's Basic list, but is hard to get.
    ASD 2650 Brahms Symphony 4 Chicago Symphony Carlo Maria Giulini LP is supposed to be very interesting.... ,but some say bad sounding.
    I've got the black and white postage stamp of Klemperer and it is sonically a bit challenged.... and I've got Sym. 1 on a later SXLP which I'll have to check out tonight and report back.
    May fire up the american RD box with reiner Brahms 4. I'd snag the Chesky if I saw it cheap.
    Klieber on DG would be worth trying given the high level of the performance.

    Sadly, it seems the audiophile pickings are pretty lean on LP.

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    Replies
    1. Ignore the Boult 4 comment. I checked out the concert classic of Klemperer Brahms four and it is a big dog. I really like the sound of it over the ASD reissue on black and white label. Still not outrageously good. In the same vein, I spotted a concert classic of the Karajan Dvoreck New World. I really like the ASD reissue of the New World, but this concert classic takes it to another level, a great record.

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    2. Don't you have the EMI box set of the Klemperer Brahms? I thought you bought that online from the UK from kcvinyl?

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    3. Yes have B&W pressing and I don't like it.

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  6. I recently acquired a Japanese Angel version of this performance (ASC 5165, red vinyl) that sounds excellent. And I must say I like Kempe's interpretation. Since I don't have either the original or the WRC reissue, I don't have a basis for comparison, but it's a disc that's worth looking out for.

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  7. Good to know and red vinyl as well.

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  8. I am a great fan of Horenstein and loved his interpretation of the Brahms 1st on Chesky CD. I also loved his New World and was not very keen on the overinflated prices the Chesky Reissues command on ebay. So I searched for the source of these recordings. Lo and behold, they come from a Readers Digest box named "The Worlds most Unforgettable Music". It is fairly common in the US, not so much in Europe, but I managed to have it imported for some 55 Euros. Not bad for a Box with 9 LPs, all of them A1/1s or 2S pressings from the RCA plant in Indianapolis. The 2 Horenstein records alone would be worth the price, but there is more. On any given day there are 2 or 3 boxes on offer on ebay.com, the prices between 20 and 50 dollars. Highly recommended.

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