First the CD, then tour Overseas, and now the home match: Daniel Barenboim and his Staatskapelle Berlin have spent a lot of time with the symphonies of Johannes Brahms. Now fill in two subscription concerts, Under the Linden, and in the Philharmonic hall, stretched over a period of six weeks. This means that you can rely on to be able to leave nothing. But one thing is certain: at some point, the Phase of Barenboim’s access to Mr is and comes. As it is now in the Philharmonic in the symphonies number 1 and 2.

A giant, having heard Brahms marching behind and believed for fear of the over-sized model of Beethoven, never a Symphony write. In the case of Barenboim Brahms himself is to defiantly stomping of the giants: The 48 timpani strokes at the beginning of the First do not want to be the heartbeat of the music, you smashed the life that wants to stand out there under the labors of the strings up.

An act of arbitrariness

You do not need to interpret Brahms as expeditiously as Herbert Blomstedt Recently, with the Staatskapelle Dresden, although it was a light treat. But as before the furor Starr-goers Beethoven re-interpreted, has little charm. For those who like to accept this as a reading for the First, then speechless for the Second. As if there had been no development in Brahms’ Create, after the scruples had somewhat subsided, dominated here, too, Barenboim’s bitter Klassizistik. And so rigid that even the extremely knowledgeable and dedicated Staatskapelle, the Intonation start to roll and in the Finale the tempo manipulation of the joint can support. It’s fitting that the conductor for the final shear point, according to ausschnaufend the baton in the direction of the musicians to the rams as Wotan sword in the world. An act of arbitrariness.

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Daniel Barenboim to 75. From Prodigy to a star of the stage

Frederik Hanssen

The auditory impression of the Evening fit his production. Barenboim’s climbing on a very high pedestal, with this Brahms to the Base. Between him and the orchestra a spatial abyss, the musical is not entirely bridged. Barenboim’s biography in the program booklet has reached the length of an Obituary. On 21./22. In January, it continues with the symphonies 3 and 4.