John Eliot Gardiner challenges the hallowed tradition of turgid, muddy Brahms with his glowing yet athletic period-instrument account of the F major symphony. This is the second instalment of his Brahms project with the Monteverdi Choir and ORR, which seeks to put Brahms's four symphonies in the context of choral works: his own, and music that influenced him. The sound of the ORR's mellow woodwinds brings ravishingly pastoral alfresco sounds to the Andante, while the astringent strings lend a youthful vigour to the great opening Allegro con brio. Gardiner's choice of choral works includes the relatively substantial Gesang der Parzen, a near contemporary of the symphony, and the lovely Es tönt ein voller Harfenklang for female chorus with horn and harp solos. A must-have disc for Brahmsians.
SDG 704