Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, L. Shani, G. Shaham, K. Soltani by Brahms, Alkaen (2023/2023), Musiikinjohto Lahav Shani, Rudolfinum, Prague, Czech Republic

If you had to pick the best of Brahms’s four symphonies, you could draw numbers from a hat – whichever one you drew, you would not be disappointed. Or you could just go straight for the first one. The composer was meticulous in his approach and spent a staggering 21 years perfecting this composition. Thanks to this, his very first symphony was so advanced and intricate that it left the audience speechless. As described by Romantic-era composer Hans von Bülow, the symphony is still sometimes referred to as “Beethoven’s Tenth”. Brahms was unconcerned, though, with the similarity that some of his motifs bore towards his esteemed predecessor, and indeed he took Beethoven’s style to the next level. In comparison, Brahms’s orchestral compositions end with the Double Concerto in A Minor, in which the orchestra is intensified and enhanced by soloists. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by violinist Gil Shaham and cellist Kian Soltani, both of whom are returning to Dvořák Prague after four years, having previously delighted audiences with their outstanding performances and their charm.