Brahms: The Symphonies

These new recordings of the Brahms symphonies aren't exactly streamlined, but they veer way from the overweight and over-nuanced approach that is often described as Brahmsian. The refreshing directness of the music-making, and Riccardo Chailly's sharp-ear for orchestral detail allow for an unusual combination of lightness and high contrapuntal tension. That said, if your taste runs to massiveness in Brahms, you may find Chailly understated. The set includes the Tragic and Academic Festival Overtures; some Liebeslieder Waltzes and Hungarian Dances orchestrated by Brahms; some piano pieces orchestrated by Paul Klengel; a reconstruction of the original version of the First Symphony's Andante; and an alternative opening to the Fourth Symphony. All enhance the CDs' appeal. url.ie/4w4k