Album: Brahms, Symphonies 1-4/Simon Rattle (EMI Classics)

Anna Picard
Sunday 04 October 2009 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Honeymoon period and local backlash behind him, Rattle can still produce startling results with the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Some details in this Brahms Cycle are magnificent: the sighing accompaniment to the solo oboe in the Andante of the First Symphony; the curious timbre of the Allegro of the Third: the subtly amplified woodwind in the first movement of the Fourth. Yet Rattle's accelerandi are hard edged and sharply accented, and the tone is often frigid. Impressive, but lacking in Brahmsian ambiguity.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in