Complete Symphonies, Overtures, Hungarian Dances, Alto Rhapsody, etc : Thomas Dausgaard / Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Anna Larsson, etc (4SACD)(Hybrid)

This boxed set brings together Thomas Dausgaards and the Swedish Chamber Orchestras cycle of Brahms symphonies, originally released as four separate discs. Each symphony is coupled with carefully selected works to provide a well-rounded idea of the composers orchestral output. Favorites such as the two concert overtures are included the laughing and the weeping one, to paraphrase Brahms himself as well as the much loved Haydn Variations (on a theme which most likely isnt by Haydn at all). Another perennial favorite is the Alto Rhapsody, with Anna Larsson singing the solo part, but there are also less often heard works Brahmss orchestrations of his own Liebeslieder-Walzer as well as of six songs by Schubert. And throughout the set the composers Hungarian Dances (including some of his most popular music) run like a thread. Brahms own orchestrations of Nos 1, 3 and 10 have pride of place on disc 1, with the remaining 18, in much praised orchestral versions by Thomas Dausgaard, are spread out over the remaining three discs. In reviews of the individual discs, critics have praised their sound, words such as freshness, transparency and urgency to describe the performances, with the critic in Fanfare expressing his pleasure at hearing Brahms from the edge of one's seat.