These Brahms symphonies were recorded in 1975/6, when Karl Bohm (1894-1981) was in his early 80s, and one of the most authoritative conductors for Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. Bohm was widely respected with music critics, the general musical public in Europe and the United States, and among other conductors. Both Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) and Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) were Bohm's friends, although there was some rivalry between them for influence and fame, especially with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Vienna Philharmonic has the perfect sound for Brahms Symphonies, and Bohm had the experience of recording Symphony 3 in the 1950s (mono, Decca Eloquence); and Symphony 4 (Dresden State orchestra, 1936; available on Gramofono label) before recording them both in stereo, in Vienna, 1975. The stereo sound here is a huge asset, and if tempos are a bit more expansive here than in the earlier recordings, that is not a detriment. Bohm never drags tempos or distends ends of phrases for interpretive effect, a la Bernstein. The Bohm/Vienna Brahms Symphonies recorded here are superb, and superior in many ways to the same works recorded by Bernstein/Vienna (DG, 1980s); and Karajan/Berlin (DG, 1977/8; or 1986-88), as good as those are.
The DG Japan remastering is excellent. These recordings are also available in a 3 disc box, coupled with the Alto Rhapsody (Christa Ludwig, Mezzo-Soprano); Variations on a theme of Haydn; and Tragic Overture, also DG, but a different remastering. No matter: the sound and presentation are excellent, either way.
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