play pause radio-play skip-back skip-forward playing search copy check embed close plus caret-down caret-left caret-right caret-up chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up arrow-left arrow-right open-in-new-tab filter menu more-horizontal more-vertical share share-android select star star-block volume-block volume-mute-block volume-mute volume lock settings recording composition devices laptop speaker
Log inCreate account

Brahms: Symphonies Nos 1-4

9/7/2009, 16 Tracks, 2:46:36

Featuring

  • Sir Simon Rattle
  • Berliner Philharmoniker
  • Johannes Brahms

Did you know?

1/6

Recording & Production

This album features the Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, and was recorded live in concert in Berlin in late 2008.

Source: Booklet

Critical Reception

The critic Eduard Hanslick, a loyal Brahmsian, described hearing Brahms's Fourth Symphony as being "thrashed by two terribly clever men" when first played on two pianos.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Brahms took an unusually long time to complete his First Symphony, leading some to believe he felt inhibited by the legacy of Beethoven.

Source: Booklet

Composer's Artistic Vision

Brahms's music was deeply rooted in older traditions, exploring Renaissance and Baroque choral music and drawing on the work of Bach scholars and Beethoven sketch experts.

Source: Booklet

Compositional Technique

Brahms shared Beethoven's ability to build symphonic structures from small, transformable motifs, but he aimed to go further in tonal relationships and chromatic harmonies.

Source: Booklet

Composer Biography

Brahms was deeply affected by Robert Schumann's attempted suicide and early death, as well as his complex relationship with Schumann's widow, Clara.

Source: Booklet

You might also enjoy...

Symphonien Nr. 3&4
Brahms: The Four Symphonies (Live)
Brahms: Symphony No. 3
Brahms: The 4 Symphonies
Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90: III. Poco allegretto
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4
Brahms: Symphony No.4
Brahms: The Symphonies
J. Brahms: Symphony No. 1
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68
Brahms, J.: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 (Dresden Philharmonic / Burgos)
Elbphilharmonie First Recording - Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4
Brahms: Symphonies 1-4
©℗ 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd.