Kent Nagano / Goteborgs Symfoniker - Brahms:Symphony No.3&4 - Import SACD Hybrid

Credits:

Kent Nagano / Goteborgs Symfoniker

Description:

Kent Nagano & Hamburg Philharmonic to Release Long-Awaited Brahms Symphonies in Final Year of His Tenure Kent Nagano, who has served as principal conductor of the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra since 2015 and has performed his symphonies in Japan, finally releases two symphonies before the end of his tenure. This is a highly anticipated release for the duo, who received the Brahms Prize from the Brahms Society of Schleswig-Holstein in 2024, and who have had remarkably few recordings despite their high local reputation. Nagano's music-making is characterized by a polished balance and smooth beauty of sound. This, coupled with the orchestra's unique dark tones and the exquisite blending of the entire orchestra in the recording, gives these two pieces a unique sound that is dark yet sensual. The third movement is a profound and detailed interpretation that takes nearly 39 minutes to complete, and the second movement is also very impressive, with various instruments singing the melody with flickering lights and a sense of regret.The DSO recorded No. 4 with the Deutsches Symphonieorchester Berlin (DSO) in 2006, and although the playing time of each movement is almost the same, the impression is quite different from the beginning of the first movement. In contrast to the DSO recording, the DSO recording starts with a very low volume and seems to hesitate, but then moves the tempo in small steps and continues to refine the music, a style that pervades the entire piece. There is no exaggerated expressiveness, but the performance is meticulously crafted and the more you listen to it, the more you will enjoy it. According to the Hamburg Philharmonic's publicist in the booklet, this fine tempo movement is part of the orchestra's tradition. Nagano, who is also a researcher of historical performance practices, such as performing Wagner's "Ring" with a period orchestra, must have studied the performance history of Brahms' works, and based on such meticulous research, this recording is the fruit of what only the current Hamburg Philharmonic can achieve. Kent Nagano, who has served as principal conductor of the Hamburg Philharmonic since 2015, has decided to retire in the fall of 2025, the 10-year anniversary of his appointment.The orchestra took the unusual step of presenting him with the title of Honorary Conductor (only the third in history, after Karl Böhm and Wolfgang Sawallisch) less than two years before his retirement. Together with the earlier release of Brahms' German Requiem, this is a valuable release that showcases some of the achievements of this duo. This is a SACD hybrid disc release. Surround sound playback provides an even richer sense of presence. Naxos Japan