The Berlin Philharmonic is once again demonstrating the artistic direction of it’s principal conductor, Kirill Petrenko, with a recent release that features a live interpretation of Brahms’s First Symphony. This performance was recorded just two months ago at the renowned Philharmonie and is paired with last year’s captivating rendition of the Tragic Overture.

In readiness for this performance, Petrenko drew from scores belonging to the Meiningen Court Orchestra that featured annotations made by Brahms himself. While some critics might argue that his interpretative style leans towards excessiveness, there is an undeniable vibrancy in this performance that enchants audiences with its extraordinary fluidity—an element emphasized in a recent thought-provoking article exploring Brahms’s “struggle against rigid meter.” The overall balance achieved is remarkable; however, certain solo passages occasionally seem to recieve more prominence then intended due to specific recording decisions.

The Tragic overture emerges with compelling urgency; its meticulously crafted structure offers an exhilarating experience from begining to end. Nevertheless, it seems to have been recorded in a more acoustically favorable habitat compared to the symphony itself, which at times suffers from muddiness in lower frequencies.

You can enjoy this piece on Apple Music above or discover it on Spotify.