After struggling for years to come to terms with his fear of comparison to Beethoven, Brahms finally completed his First Symphony at the age of 43. It was hailed as a triumph and the remaining three symphonies followed relatively easily.
His Symphony No. 2 overflows with a relaxed, pastoral beauty, while the Third Symphony contains some of the most dramatic music Brahms was to compose. Finally, loaded with German Romanticism and including variations on a Bach cantata, Brahms’ final symphony is a remarkable example of his mastery of symphonic composition. A rich, warm work that builds on a sense of movement and intensity right up to the final bars. Along with the symphonies, this release also includes Brahms’ Double Concerto, Tragic Overture and Serenade No. 2.
Composer Brahms
Conductor Bernard Haitink
Performers London Symphony Orchestra
Soloists Gordan Nikolitch, Tim Hugh
Disc 1
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68
1. I. Un poco sostenuto - Allegro
2. II. Andante sostenuto
3. III. Un poco allegretto e grazioso
4. IV. Adagio - Allegro non troppo ma con brio
5. Tragic Overture in D Minor, Op. 81
Disc 2
Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op. 102
1. I. Allegro
2. II. Andante
3. III. Vivace non troppo
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73
4. I. Allegro non troppo
5. II. Adagio non troppo
6. III. Allegretto grazioso
7. IV. Allegro con spirito
Disc 3
Serenade No. 2 in A Major, Op. 16
1. I. Allegro moderato
2. II. Scherzo. Vivace - Trio
3. III. Adagio non troppo
4. IV. Quasi menuetto - Trio
5. V. Rondo. Allegro
Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90
6. I. Allegro con brio
7. II. Andante
8. III. Poco allegretto
9. IV. Allegro - Un poco sostenuto
Disc 4
Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98
1. I. Allegro non troppo
2. II. Andante moderato
3. III. Allegro giocoso
4. IV. Allegro energico e passionato
