Brahms Complete Edition

Anyone willing to invest in Deutsche Grammophon's 46-CD box set of the complete works of Johannes Brahms should expect the highest musical quality, as well as exceptional audio reproduction, because both needs are met here, in abundance. Of course, the performers are drawn from the label's roster of legendary stars, so the work of Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic dominate the orchestral recordings. There is, however, a greater variety of vocalists, chamber players, and pianists in this package, including soprano Barbara Bonney, baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, the Amadeus Quartet, Quartetto Italiano, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, pianists Maurizio Pollini, Daniel Barenboim, and Wilhelm Kempff, and many other superb artists who created a rich legacy of Brahms recordings in the last half of the 20th century. Because of the space constraints (the box is a cube just over five inches in height, width, and depth), the CDs are stored in card stock sleeves and the booklet provides only detailed track listings, no notes. This may frustrate listeners who want background information, but this set offers an amazing amount of music at a substantial discount, so some corners were cut. Still, only the most curmudgeonly critic would fuss about the selections or complain about the booklet, while admirers of Brahms' music will find much to enjoy in this special limited edition. Highly recommended.