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Background:

• Composed in the summer of 1877 during a visit to Portschah am Worthersee, a town in the Austrian province of Carinthia. Premiered in nVienna by the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Hans Richter on 30 December 1877.
• Inspired by the serene alpine scenery, morning swims, and fresh air, the piece is often nicknamed the "Pastoral" symphony and is widely considered his most cheerful and sunny orchestral work.
• Despite its bright façade, Brahms wrote to his publisher on 22 November 1877 that the Symphony "is so melancholy that you will not be able to bear it. I have never written anything so sad, and the score must come out in mourning."

Recordings:

• The Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 2.
  Gewabdhausorchester.
  Riccardo Chailly.
  DECCA.
  Gramophone Magazine (2013): Disc of the Month.
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2014): Orchestral Finalist.
  Gramophone Awards (2014): Recording of the Year.
  Radio 3 (2018): Recommended.

• Complete Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 2.
  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
  Sir Eliot Gardiner.
  Deutsche Grammophon.

• Brahms Symphony No. 2, Alto Rhapsody; Schubert-Brahms Gruppe aus dem Tartarus; Schubert Gesang der Geister uber den Wassern.
  Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique.
  John Eliot Gardiner.
  SDG.

• Brahms Symphony No. 2, Double Concerto.
  London Symphony Orchestra.
  Bernard Haitink.
  LSO.
  Gramophone Magazine (2004): Editor’s Choice.

• The Complete Symphonies, Overtures, Haydn Variations, Violin Concerto, Deutsches Requiem, Alto Rhapsody.
  Symphony No. 2.
  Philharmonia Orchestra.
  Otto Klemperer.
  Warner Classics
  International Classical Music Awards (2025): Nominated Historical.

• The Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 2.
  Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
  Yannick Nezet-Seguin.
  Deutsche Grammophon.
  Gramophone Magazine (2024): Editor’s Choice.
  International Classical Music Awards (2025): Nominated Symphonic Music.

• The Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 2.
  Berliner Philharmoniker.
  Simon Rattle.
  Warner Classics.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2009).

• The Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 2.
  Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
  Robin Ticciati.
  LINN.
  BBC Music Magazine (2018): Recording of the Month.
  Radio 3 Record Review (2018): Recording of the Week.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.