Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Kirill Petrenko - Johannes Brahms - Symphony No. 1, Op. 68 in C minor. Premiere album, released on November 7th, 2025, included in the project "Records of the Year 2026"

A return to the roots, this is how the new version of Johannes Brahms's Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 is presented. The recording, captured live in concert by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Kirill Petrenko, was released on November 7th by the renowned German ensemble's own record label. Kirill Petrenko served as Music Director of the Meiningen Theatre between 1999 and 2002, the very institution where, one hundred years earlier Hans von Bülow conducted the premieres of Johannes Brahms's works. Also evoked is Bülow's successor, Fritz Steinbach, who led the same orchestra for 17 years and frequently welcomed Brahms as a guest, becoming deeply familiar with the composer's mindset and artistic vision. All these interpretative insights, meticulously noted in the scores, were consulted by Kirill Petrenko for this new and truly monumental version of Brahms's First Symphony, so that we are offered, I quote, "a direct perspective on the aesthetic vision of the German composer."

Brahms's First Symphony is the result of an exceptionally long creative process, spanning nearly 14 years, during which the shadow of Beethoven loomed constantly as a model and point of reference. The expectations of contemporary audiences were fully met: the work was famously described by music critics as "Beethoven's Tenth Symphony." Returning to the new interpretation, Brahms's music represents one of the Russian conductor's favored repertoire chapters as he leads one of the world's most prestigious orchestras, the Berlin Philharmonic. This Symphony is rendered with an acutely heightened dramatic sense, revealing the consistency of excellence and the unmistakable presence of an impeccably sculpted orchestral sound. The musical discourse is robust, allowing us to perceive the tutelary and inspirational silhouette of Beethoven. This new version overwhelms through its scope, intensity of expression, and vitality. It is perceived as a monolith that confirms the prestige, professionalism, and musical excellence at the highest level of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, an ensemble with a history spanning more than 140 years.