Brahms was 43 years old when, after a long period of maturation, his First Symphony was published. Felix Weingartner commented on it ‘taking hold like the claw of a lion’ and its urgency marked a new phase in Brahms’ musical development. The Second Symphony is traditionally seen as the pastoral element in the cycle, while the Third, with its melodic beauty, has the courage to end quietly, an act of astonishing serenity. The compelling Passacaglia finale of the Fourth Symphony represents a fitting summation to one of the greatest symphonic cycles in the classical canon. The symphonies are only available in a box not separately. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the collaboration between Adam Fischer and the Danish Chamber Orchestra– so it’s a ‘Silver Wedding’ recording. Fischer has called his relationship with the orchestra ‘a musical marriage’.
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Reviews
The Guardian - Best Classical Albums from 2022
No 5
Andrew Clements – The Guardian – 15 December 2022
Performance *** Recording *****
“… The sunnier Second Symphony suits Fischer’s approach particularly well; and its closing moments, with their braying horns and trumpets, are thrillingly done… thought-provoking.”
Misha Donat – BBC Music magazine – October 2022
“…this is certainly a highly interesting, often surprising, always musically passionate complete recording of the Brahms symphonies …” *****
Remy Franck – Pizzicato.lu – 26 August 2022
“… These fresh, meticulously rethought performances may be worlds away from the classic recordings of these symphonies … but among recent surveys, it’s hard to think of more engaging ones.” *****
Andrew Clements – The Guardian – 11 August 2022
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