Robin Ticciati & SCO - Brahms: The Symphonies - The Scotsman

To mark the end of his current association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, outgoing principal conductor Robin Ticciati has chosen to commit all four Brahms symphonies to disc. While the relationship has wavered in recent months due to Ticciati’s recurring back problem, this is a potent reminder of what nearly a decade of collaboration has produced. As always with Ticciati, the interpretations are hugely personal in the sense there is utter conviction in every bar. Then there is the sense of journey – an epic one at that, taking us from the psychological questioning of the First symphony, through the clearing skies and effortless liquidity of the Second and the clouded sentiments of the Third to the wholesome symphonic logic of the Fourth. There is enticing detail in these performances, often chamber-like in the delicacy of phrasing and timbre, but gutsy enough where called for, and there is a truly natural sense of expression that highlights the genuine beauty in Brahms.