Recently awarded the prestigious Brahms Prize of theSchleswig-Holstein Brahms Society, Kent Nagano andthe Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, of which hewas principal conductor from 2015 until 2025, performthe last two symphonies by the Hamburg-borncomposer, recorded in concert.The most personal of Johannes Brahms's foursymphonies, the Third is both heroic and deeplytroubled; moreover, all four movements end quietly.After the heroism of the First Symphony and thepastoral flavours of the Second, the Third Symphonyreveals Brahms at a crossroads: the youthful impulsesare now reined in and the mood is more one ofprofound reflection on life and death. The theme of theslow movement has been adapted many times and evensung by Frank Sinatra under the title of 'Take My Love'.The Fourth Symphony might be described as the mostclassical of Brahms's symphonies, not least because of it'schaconne finale, a variation form inherited from thebaroque era. Described as an 'autumn symphony' or'elegiac', it's mood is sometimes tormented and fiery,sometimes harsh and solitary. The culmination of agenre that cost him so much effort, the Fourth is the lastword of Brahms the symphonist; he would nevercompose another work of this kind.
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Recently awarded the prestigious Brahms Prize of theSchleswig-Holstein Brahms Society, Kent Nagano andthe Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, of which hewas principal conductor from 2015 until 2025, performthe last two symphonies by the Hamburg-borncomposer, recorded in concert.The most personal of Johannes Brahms's foursymphonies, the Third is both heroic and deeplytroubled; moreover, all four movements end quietly.After the heroism of the First Symphony and thepastoral flavours of the Second, the Third Symphonyreveals Brahms at a crossroads: the youthful impulsesare now reined in and the mood is more one ofprofound reflection on life and death. The theme of theslow movement has been adapted many times and evensung by Frank Sinatra under the title of 'Take My Love'.The Fourth Symphony might be described as the mostclassical of Brahms's symphonies, not least because of it'schaconne finale, a variation form inherited from thebaroque era. Described as an 'autumn symphony' or'elegiac', it's mood is sometimes tormented and fiery,sometimes harsh and solitary. The culmination of agenre that cost him so much effort, the Fourth is the lastword of Brahms the symphonist; he would nevercompose another work of this kind.
