There have been many recordings of the Brahms symphonies but few\nhave the passion, vitality and drive of István Kertész’s Vienna\nPhilharmonic cycle. This 4CD collection brings together all of\nKertész’s Brahms recordings for Decca. The two Serenades were\nrecorded with the London Symphony Orchestra. His Wiener\nPhilharmoniker Brahms cycle began in May 1964 with a recording of\nthe Second Symphony and continued in 1972-73 with the remaining\nsymphonies and the Variations on a theme of Haydn. Recording of the\nVariations commenced on 1 March 1972, and upon Kertész’s passing\n(16 April 1973), the orchestra completed the recording on 14 May\n1973, conductor-less, in his memory.

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