Brahms The Romantic

An enjoyable disk of prime romantic era writing by Brahms. Hard to listen to and give any credence to the image of Brahms as a dry academic. This is a live performance by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink. The works featured are Serenade No 2 and Symphony No 3. The first and final movements of the Third Symphony contain some of the most dramatic music he was to compose, yet both end serenely and enclose two beautiful and lyrical inner movements. The equally exquisite Serenade No 2, unusually scored for wind instruments, violas, cellos and double basses, was one of his own personal favourites. There may be cryptic references to his relationship with Robert and Clara Schumann hidden in the score to the symphony together with the motto "free but happy" but these are not really of any significance to listeners to the work. The recording comes from a recent late flowering of the partnership between the LSO and Haitink and despite being live is a recommendable contender in this repertoire.