LPO Principal Conductor Vladimir Jurowski completes his survey of Brahms’ four symphonies.

His previous disc, of Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 (February 2010), received great critical acclaim, including BBC Music Magazine’s ‘Disc of the Month’ and the recommended version of Symphony No.2 by BBC Radio 3’s ‘Building a Library’.

Symphonies Nos 3 & 4 were recorded live in concert at Royal Festival Hall in 2010 and 2011, receiving press reviews including ‘a performance of colossal proportions’ (The Guardian on No.4).

In the Third, sweeping string melodies and autumnal colours interwoven with his recurring musical motto of ‘free but joyful’ create one of the composer’s most personal works. In the Fourth, Brahms looked back to his idols Bach and Beethoven for inspiration, creating a masterpiece whose extraordinary passacaglia finale – based on a Bach cantata – seems to sum up the composer’s symphonic mastery.

Recorded live at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, London, on 27 October 2010 (Symphony No.3) and 28 May 2011 (Symphony No.4).