VIII
3 listed episodes · First aired December 3, 2022
Season overview
The eighth in the series of Masterpieces Performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra features three maestros conducting three Brahms symphonies. One of the pieces Fabio Luisi—appointed NHKSO's chief conductor in September of this year—chose for his inaugural commemoration performance was Brahms' Symphony No. 2 often referred to as the composer's "pastoral symphony." Here, we offer this brand-new performance to round out the three featured in this series. First up is the NHKSO performance Wolfgang Sawallisch conducted during his 2004 Japan visit followed by the 2017 concert helmed by Christoph Eschenbach, who had performed as the featured pianist with the NHKSO previously. Enjoy the three historical tentpole Brahms performances with an ear toward the influence a conductor and zeitgeist has on Brahms' music. NHK WORLD-JAPAN anchor Yamamoto Miki interviews music critic about the highlight of each performance.
Episodes
The eminent German conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch is credited for having created NHKSO's characteristic "sound rooted in the German tradition" during his 40-year association. In his final November 2004 collaboration with…
E2Christoph Eschenbach: Brahms, Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98Although Christoph Eschenbach belongs firmly in a line of distinguished conductors of the German tradition, he began his illustrious music career as a pianist. Since his focus moved to conducting in the 1970s, he has he…
E3Fabio Luisi: Brahms, Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73We present this brand-new September 2022 performance as the last of the three featured in this series. Fabio Luisi names Sawallisch as one of his mentors and a role model as a musician. In Part 1 of this series, you hea…