The happy marriage between Teutonic conducting finesse and American orchestral rigour.
This is a live recording of Wand's American debut, at the fine age of 77, on 19, 20 and 21 January, 1989 at Orchestra Hall, Chicago. When first released, it was an "expensive" disc, featuring only 46 odd minutes of music in Brahms Symphony No. 1 without any coupling. But what music it was! Simply awesome!
The grandeur, gorgeousness and urgency of this symphony has been captured in this performance. It is a telling testament to great Brahms conducting. Clear orchestral balance and colour, with much inner detail heard, is Wand's magic within the Teutonic symphonic palette.
Tension is maintaned all through the entire first movement. Grace decorates the inner movements. The epic finale erupts with immense power, culminating in a grand coda amidst the convincing rhythmic ostinato of the strings. This is the beautiful product from a perfectionist who demanded 11 hours of rehearsal, roughly double the norm, for this performance.
I'm infused with undiluted pleasure every time I listen to this recording again.
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