Brahms: Symphonies, Overtures, Haydn, Variations, Piano Concertos - HARNONCOURT, BUCHBINDER, BERLIN PHILHARMONIC, CONCERTGEBOUW (5 CDS)

"Simply to play Brahms one more time is not enough for me," said Nikolaus Harnoncourt of these recordings, made in the late 1990s with the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the pianist Rudolf Buchbinder. His research, which included detailed study of Brahms' own scores and of performing traditions, led the conductor to draw a fascinating, apparently contradictory conclusion; "to deny that Brahms was a Romantic and, in the same breath, I describe him as the greatest Romantic."

Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4
Berliner Philharmoniker
Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Brahms: Variations on a theme by Haydn for orchestra, Op. 56a 'St Anthony Variations'
Berliner Philharmoniker
Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81
Berliner Philharmoniker
Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
Berliner Philharmoniker
Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano)

Brahms: Ballades (4), Op. 10
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano)

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano)

Brahms: Rhapsodies (2), Op. 79
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano)