Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73 Conductor: Yevgeny Mravinsky Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra Recorded: April 29, 1978, Leningrad (Live) Since all movements of the Second Symphony begin in a major key, and it is the brightest of Brahms' works, it is also called Brahms' "Pastoral Symphony." It is full of forward momentum, with overwhelming passion at the climax, and sometimes even a sense of "liveliness." The polished sound of the strings, the singing of the wind instruments piercing the sky, and the percussion instruments resounding from the earth. In every respect, it is a world of Russian, philosophical elegance, and this beauty is unique to Mravinsky. This performance gives a strong impression with the steel-like, powerful strings of the Leningrad Philharmonic. It has a dark, heavy sound like oil paint, which could be described as German, but the way the strings sing the melody has a unique resilience. It doesn't evoke a soft, romantic impression with a misty, damp atmosphere, but rather the impression of looking at a solid, Gothic-style stone building. Perhaps that's what makes it Russian. However, I think this is in line with Brahms' sense of form. The first movement is particularly brilliant. The music is full of energy at a fast tempo, with a sense of dynamism and concentrated expression. The second and third movements, with slightly slower tempos, are also good. Without using too many soft tones, the overall expression seems to aim for a bold line, but it feels intensely romantic. The fourth movement is brought together on a large scale. Mravinsky has two other recordings of Brahms' Symphony No. 2. The 1977 Tokyo live recording, perhaps due to the recording quality, captures a lot of the hall's reverberation, and the orchestra's contours feel somewhat soft. The June 1978 Vienna live recording is a performance that feels even more powerful and willful than pastoral. The recording has a slightly dry impression with a slightly resonant sound quality. In any case, Mravinsky fans will listen to all three versions of Brahms' Symphony No. 2. Early domestic edition [out of print] No obi, no scratches on the disc 10 Liner notes (booklet) with age-related stains *Bulk purchase discount available (please comment in advance) 150 yen off for each additional item 150 yen off all items for 10 or more items (Discounts for single purchases are not available)