Masterpieces Performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra Season 8

Synopsis

The eighth in the series of Masterpieces Performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra features three maestros conducting three Brahms symphonies. One of the pieces Fabio Luisi—appointed NHKSO's chief conductor in September of this year—chose for his inaugural commemoration performance was Brahms' Symphony No. 2 often referred to as the composer's "pastoral symphony." Here, we offer this brand-new performance to round out the three featured in this series. First up is the NHKSO performance Wolfgang Sawallisch conducted during his 2004 Japan visit followed by the 2017 concert helmed by Christoph Eschenbach, who had performed as the featured pianist with the NHKSO previously. Enjoy the three historical tentpole Brahms performances with an ear toward the influence a conductor and zeitgeist has on Brahms' music. NHK WORLD-JAPAN anchor Yamamoto Miki interviews music critic about the highlight of each performance.

Main Cast

Miki Yamamoto

Self - Host

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Morihide Katayama

Self - Music Critic

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Episodes

Episode 1

03 December 2022 - Wolfgang Sawallisch: Brahms, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68

The eminent German conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch is credited for having created NHKSO's characteristic "sound rooted in the German tradition" during his 40-year association. In his final November 2004 collaboration with the orchestra, he imparted a soft watercolor-like diffused edge to the sharp and clear modern tones giving the music even more depth. Pay particular attention to the maestro's left hand. The subtlety Sawallisch desires the orchestra to convey is expressed in these movements. In this final performance with the NHKSO, Sawallisch wanted to communicate so much and the orchestra responds magnificently. Sit back and enjoy the confident performance that comes only with total trust between conductor and orchestra.

Episode 2

10 December 2022 - Christoph Eschenbach: Brahms, Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

Although Christoph Eschenbach belongs firmly in a line of distinguished conductors of the German tradition, he began his illustrious music career as a pianist. Since his focus moved to conducting in the 1970s, he has held the directorship of numerous renowned orchestras throughout the world and received the highest musical honors. He has also performed as a featured pianist with the NHKSO many times. As a conductor, this 2017 performance was the first collaboration with the NHKSO in thirty years. Eschenbach is a perfectionist, an exacting conductor who pays attention to the minutest of details to polish the sound for a consummate performance. Be amazed at the virtuosity of an orchestra that presents very different interpretations of symphonies by the same composer reflecting the zeitgeist and the style of the conductor.

Episode 3

17 December 2022 - Fabio Luisi: Brahms, Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

We present this brand-new September 2022 performance as the last of the three featured in this series. Fabio Luisi names Sawallisch as one of his mentors and a role model as a musician. In Part 1 of this series, you heard the Brahms symphony that was Sawallisch's final collaboration with the NHKSO. Now, listen to Luisi's Brahms symphony and see if you can detect any indication of the direction the orchestra is headed under his directorship. You may catch the melodic phrases that Luisi, an Italian, infuses into this new performance. Brahms is one of the representative composers in the NHKSO repertoire. Speaking of the repertoire, Luisi stated he will perfect it by making it deeper, newer and different, and this intent can clearly be felt in this rendition. Watch this and the other two performances in this series as the standard for comparison for all other Brahms symphony performances.

Crew

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