Robin Ticciati & SCO - Brahms: The Symphonies - BBC Radio Scotland 'Classics Unwrapped'

And now it’s time to hear something from my Album of the Week - it’s the SCO and Robin Ticciati with all 4 of Brahms’ symphonies on Linn Records. They’ve billed it as Robin’s "Landmark Recording” and rightly so. This year marks the end of a 9 year tenure as principal conductor of the SCO, a period that’s seen them work on bigger, more romantic repertoire, they’ve produced some terrific Berlioz recordings during that time and I play them quite a lot here on Classics Unwrapped. Some of you listening might be thinking SCO, what are they playing symphonies for? That doesn’t sound like music for a small-scale chamber group like the SCO, particularly these big romantic ones. Well Robin Ticciati explains that the size of the SCO string section is similar to the orchestra that Brahms himself favoured, they also use small-bore trombones and Viennese horns from the late 19th century. They sound a bit brighter and lighter. All of which gives this disc a fresh sound and approach to these very well-known symphonies. Treating these works very much like large chamber works Robin looked to explore the intimacy and beautiful dialogue between the sections he also highlights the fantastic SCO wind players who feature heavily in this, the third movement of the first symphony. It took Brahms 14 years to complete his first symphony – well worth the wait wasn’t it? I’m going to close this tonight with the final track from my album of the week. I’ve really enjoyed taking in these 4 masterworks, each a distinct voice and story and as always the playing is first class from the SCO with wonderful phrasing particularly in the woodwinds and horns. It’s a delight to listen to from start to finish.