When Brahms was told that the theme of the final movement of his first symphony sounded like Beethoven, he reportedly said, "Any idiot can tell that." Hear famous maestros lead the music. The Four ...

Johannes Brahms was one of the romantic period's most conflicted musical characters, and his symphonies are the perfect way to find out why... The image of Brahms the curmudgeon with his hands firmly ...

When I was hired as a classical producer at Colorado Public Radio in the late 90's, I came with a rock and roll and jazz background. I remember asking one of the ...

Johannes Brahms can be forgiven for taking, by some accounts, anywhere from 14 to 21 years to complete his First Symphony. It was expected that he would follow in the mighty footsteps of that other ...

Classical For an inviting foretaste of this week's two-night Davies Symphony Hall visit by Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, you could hardly do better than their new box set featuring ...

It is 20 years since Charles Mackerras made his groundbreaking recordings of the Brahms Symphonies with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. That kind of lean and hungry Brahms, influenced by ideas from ...

What I don't expect now is for one of his magnificent symphonies to act as a sleep aid. That can happen. Recordings made since the middle of the 20th century are often a muddled wall of sound that ...

Four concerts, eight symphonies, two great composers. Under the direction of Alondra de la Parra, the Munich Symphony Orchestra interprets works by Johannes Brahms and Antonín Dvořák. The highlights ...

Throughout the week Classic FM’s presenters bring you the best new recordings, including world exclusives and premiere broadcasts of latest releases. This week: Brahms from the Bergen Philharmonic ...

The character of the Fourth Symphony has been described as autumnal. Even if it weren't the last of Brahms' symphonies, the description would fit, for surely none of the others presents the same ...

A bonus third disc is a real treat, containing a fine Haydn Variations.Riccardo Chailly's new recording of the Brahms symphonies offers a handsome introduction for newcomers as well as compelling and ...