Disc 1
01. Tragic Overture, op.81 [13'45]
02. Alto Rhapsody, op.53* [2'59]
03. - 06. Symphony No.1 in C minor, op.68 [49'00]
Disc 2
01. Academic Festival Overture, op.80 [10'45]
02. Variations on a Theme by Haydn, op.56a 'St. Anthony Chorale' [18'42]
03. - 06. Symphony No.2 in D major, op.73 [45'44]
Disc 3
01. - 04. Symphony No.3 in F major, op.90 [38'46]
05. - 08. Symphony No.4 in E minor, op.98 [41'07]
Disc 4
01. - 03. Three Hungarian Dances - No.1, No.3 & No.19 [7'50]
04. - 06. Violin Concerto in D major, op.77# [1'40]
Bernadette Greevy*- alto, Halle Choir*, Halle Orchestra conducted by James Loughran
#Maurice Hasson- violin, London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by James Loughran
EMI Classics for Pleasure 575753 2 (recorded July 1973 - July 1975, excepting #October 1974; this CD set issued 2002)
(flacs, booklet, cover and inlay scans)
Recording venue: Free Trade Hall, Manchester; #Barking Town Hall, London
Recording engineers: John Boyden and Wilson Strutte
Producers: John Boyden and Anton Kwiatkowski
The Scottish conductor James Loughran seemed to be about to set the world on fire when these recordings of the Brahms Symphonies were originally released to critical acclaim. In swift succession, more recordings for Classics for Pleasure, including Walton Belshazzar's Feast, Holst The Planets, Berlioz Symphonie fantastique and Overtures and Rachmaninov Symphony No.2, which were also very well received. There was also a very fine recording for EMI in 1975 with the Halle Orchestra in music by John McCabe - also here on MIMIC. Before long, however, his star seemed to wane and the few later recordings were often made for minor labels with second-tier orchestras.
I also posted the very fine Belshazzar's Feast from 1973 here on MIMIC and last week I posted Holst The Planets from 1975.
Loughran's approach to Brahms is lyrical and affectionate but also fierce and exciting where appropriate. He gets fine playing from the Halle Orchestra who's standard of playing was on the rise after falling off towards the end of Barbirolli's tenure. The Violin Concerto with Maurice Hasson is warmly romantic but cannot compete with many later (and earlier) recorded performances. However, Bernadette Greevy and the men of the Halle Choir give as persuasive a performance of the Alto Rhapsody as any on record.
PS: 1n 1978, Loughran recorded the two Brahms Piano Concertos with John Lill and the Halle Orchestra for ASV. These recordings can be found on Israbox.