Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Mariss Jansons :: Beethoven: Symphony No. 2; Brahms: Symphony No. 2 [Hybrid SACD]

Jansons Demonstrates That He Is A Superb Brahms Interpreter

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 02/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I haven't heard any of Jansons' earlier Brahms symphony recordings with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, but his recent Carnegie Hall live performance of the Brahms 2nd Symphony with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra was truly a revelation. Until then, the best live performance I had heard of this symphony was with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Bernard Haitink's baton, back in the Spring of 2001. Jansons' live performance - and this superb recording - are as well-realized as any I have heard with Haitink conducting the Royal Concertgebouw, Boston Symphony and London Symphony orchestras. But this might be the best ever, due to the exemplary playing from the French horns and strings. In the past I have tended to underrate Jansons as a conductor, but he has a clear, brisk direction for this work, most notably, the fourth movement. Jansons demonstrates through this gripping, quite moving, performance that he has a keen understanding of Brahms' score. This recording truly shows the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra at its best, playing with ample enthusiasm and precision in both works. Fans of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conductor Mariss Jansons, and the Brahms 2nd Symphonyh should seriously consider this recording as among the very best available. It's one that will appeal most to audophiles, especially because of its SACD format and the superior state-of-the-art recording technology employed in the Het Concertgebouw."