The pluses and minuses of this set are easily summarized: Symphony No. 1 is excellent, No. 2 very good, No. 3 dull and stodgy, and No. 4 gaunt and quite effective if you like a grim approach (the same qualities apply to the Tragic Overture), however some listeners will find it too plain, lacking in color and passion. The Handel Variations also sound marvelous–but best of all must be the Alto Rhapsody with the incomparable Christa Ludwig. Throughout, the playing of the Vienna Philharmonic (certainly no stranger to this music on disc) maintains the high standards of the house, and DG’s remastered sonics capture the performances faithfully. Certainly there are better Brahms cycles available, but this one fills a major gap in the Böhm discography and its virtues are not lightly dismissed. So it’s not a first choice, and if you collect this music you probably already know if you need this set. At budget price, it’s worth considering for its genuine strengths.
