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Background

• Written in the summer of 1883 at Wiesbaden, Germany.
• Premiered on 2 December 1883 by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, under Hans Richter.
• The shortest of Brahms's four symphonies; a typical performance lasts between 35 to 40 minutes.

Recordings

• Symphonies 3 & 4
  Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
  Herbert Blomstedt · Pentatone
  International Classical Music Awards (2023): Nominated Symphonic Music

• The Symphonies
  Gewandhausorchester
  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.
  
  
• Symphony 3
  Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
  Sir John Eliot Gardiner · SDG

• Complete Symphonies.
  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
  Sir Eliot Gardiner.
  Deutsche Grammophon.
  
  
• The Symphonies
  Chamber Orchestra of Europe
  Yannick Nézet-Séguin · Deutsche Grammophon
  Gramophone Magazine (2024): Editor's Choice.
  International Classical Music Awards (2025): Nominated Symphonic Music.

• The Symphonies.
  Berliner Philharmoniker.
  Simon Rattle.
  Warner Classics.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2009).

• The Symphonies
  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.