Join Edward Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra for a five-star concert of Strauss and Brahms.

Composed in the final months of the Second World War, Strauss's "Metamorphosen" is gorgeous, contemplative, and profoundly moving. Its rich harmonic textures and dramatic sweeping lines evoke an overwhelming sense of loss and reflection on the devastation of war. Under Gardner's baton, the orchestra's expressive shifts are seamless and organic, "in the pause before their bleak final straight, the silence in the hall was death-like." (Bachtrack).

In contrast, Brahms's pastoral Second Symphony offers an escape to the cheerfully sunlit slopes of the Austrian Alps. The piece unfolds from a tranquil retreat into a triumphant celebration of nature. With Gardner at the helm, "...not a single note or nuance [goes] unloved" (Bachtrack) as the symphony surges toward its breathtaking, brass-filled, finale.

Program:
R Strauss - Metamorphosen
Brahms - Symphony No. 2

This concert was filmed on 15 January 2025 at the Royal Festival Hall.