Symphony No. 2 / Overtures

Ivan Fischer's follow up to his rapturously received recording of Brahms' Symphony No.1 in 2009 - "monumental in every sense of the word...Outstanding." as Andrew Clements in The Guardian put it.

"Is this one Brahms' most nature-related symphony? Considering the complicated organisms being developed from the simplest cells, yes it is. Brahms certainly has the divine, creative talent to show us how this process can work in music" says Iván Fischer, who tops off Brahms 'Sunny' second symphony with the Tragic overture - solemn, somber, inevitable fate, - and the Academic overture - sparkling, humurous, extensive instrumentation.

"A remarkable, transparent purity can be heard in Brahms' second symphony. Giving the first motif to the (natural) horns is a logical choice. Horns can ideally explore the purest of all musical ideas: the journey through the overtones." Fischer, liner notes

Iván Fischer is founder and Music Director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. This partnership has become one of the greatest success stories in the past 25 years of classical music. Intense international touring and a series of acclaimed recordings for Philips Classics, later for Channel Classics have contributed to Iván Fischer's reputation as one of the world's most visionary and successful orchestra leaders.