RAd’s Playlist | Brahms: 4 Sypmhonies

Since a performance of Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 73 is on the horizon, it is time once again to put on for numerous spins the hefty Brahms Symphonies collection by the legendary conductor Claudio Abbado leading the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Aside from Brahms' four symphonies namely Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68, Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73, Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90, and Symphony No. 4 in E minor Op. 98, the set also includes a bunch of his other orchestral works like the Academic Overture, Op. 80, Tragic Overture Op. 81, and Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn, Op. 56a. And if that's not enough, there are also a few works for choir and orchestra like Gesang der Parsen, Op. 89, Schickaslied Op. 54, Nänie, Op. 82, and Alto Rhapsody, Op.53.

To say that this set packs a mean is an understatement and proves that there is a lot more to Brahms than just a bearded man playing a lullaby on the piano.

There have been countless releases of Brahms symphony cycles out there like that of the Berlin Philharmonic with former music director Simon Rattle but it is this one by Abbado that defined and formed the sound of Brahms and the Berlin Philharmonic for me.