Brahms: The Symphonies - Simon Rattle, BPO

The name of Simon Rattle had not been closely associated with the works of Johannes Brahms so it was even more rewarding when his first Brahms recording with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Ein deutsches Requiem, won critical accolades and both Grammy and Classic FM/ Gramophone awards. Now Sir Simon and the Orchestra have committed to disc the complete Brahms symphonies, recorded in concert at Berlins Philharmonie in the autumn of 2008. In the words of Die Zeit, Simon Rattle has finally dared to tackle Brahms with the Berliner Philharmoniker. He combines Furtwänglers monumentality with Karajans beautiful sound.

The Brahms symphonies concerts drew praise from the German critics: The fourth symphony was an ecstatic apotheosis of what current orchestral playing, quick reactions and scarcely sketched annotations can get out of this work which has long since become a classic. Especially the Passacaglia finale was a finely-dosed wonder of sound refinement and harmonic finesse. Rattle appears to have finally conquered his difficult Berliners. (Die Welt)

Available from September on CD and digital download

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Johannes
• Brahms
• Symphonies
• Simon
• Rattle
• Berliner
• Philharmoniker

[cykill1000]

It took him a while to get these done but I'm very glad that he did. His music making in a lot of eyes is awkward and without music but this shows how wrong people are about him. He has a great feel for the musics original intentions and he goes for it , what's the problem with that? The BPO sounds amazing and I'm glad that he signed for several more years to keep up the good work.

Viva Rattle!!!!

[earthatic]

Definitely going to but these CD's! Sounds fantastic!

[mchaislip]

This is the greatest Brahms Symphony set out there.

[billyguns2]

If the rest of the Third lives up to this fantastic excerpt, it is surely one of the greatest performances of it ever; many great conductors came to grief with this elusive symphony, notably Toscanini and Furtwangler.

[kaetanaa]

I adore Rattle. He radiates music with all his nature. Amazing conductor!

[wjbach]

Mr. rattle, my name is Walter Ale, I am a student of orchestral conducting, I just want to tell you, I admire him so much and I want to be like you. thank you very much for his music, and look forward to learning from your videos.

[sfrenchhorn07]

@yenhoho I agree! However this brahms cycle was recorded fully in digital sound so the recordings have a very "live" sound to them. 

[Absolutegreek89]

I own these recordings! They are probably the most listened to in my entire library! I <3 Brahms and the BPO!

[usnhorn]

Please release these on DVD! Its very high quality on here, so I'm sure its ready, right? 

[yenhoho]

Szell's Brahms symphonies are also good