For years, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe have been gathering in Baden-Baden, Germany, each summer, and this 3-CD set of all the symphonies of Johannes Brahms reflects the close and productive relationship that has developed between conductor and orchestra. The recording is characterized by a high degree of transparency, rather than the often-heard dark, heavy sound, but by a great naturalness with vibrant colors and clearly articulated phrasing. The concert at the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden ended with euphoric applause, with no one knowing who was at whose feet: the conductor at the orchestra's, the audience at the conductor's, or everyone together at the composer Johannes Brahms's?
