In this episode, we present Brahms' Symphony No. 2, the beloved masterpiece imbued with a light, warm atmosphere and beautiful melodies. The conductor is Christoph Eschenbach, a maestro with long experience leading famous orchestras around the world. Please enjoy the wonderful synergy of the orchestra and the maestro, which will bring out the piece's power with amazing tension.

Symphony No. 1 in C minor written by Johannes Brahms and widely regarded as one of the greatest symphonies of the nineteenth century is conducted here by fellow German Christoph Eschenbach. He is known for adding unique insights gleaned from his deep-dive into the score and giving exacting instructions to every instrumentalist to infuse the performance with deeper meaning. Eschenbach's association with the NHK Symphony Orchestra goes back to November 1979; together they have performed all the Brahms symphonies and that seasoned partnership is evident in this performance. Take pleasure in this gem polished to brilliance by the exhilarating artistic interplay between conductor and orchestra.

Although Christoph Eschenbach belongs firmly in a line of distinguished conductors of the German tradition, he began his illustrious music career as a pianist. Since his focus moved to conducting in the 1970s, he has held the directorship of numerous renowned orchestras throughout the world and received the highest musical honors. He has also performed as a featured pianist with the NHKSO many times. As a conductor, this 2017 performance was the first collaboration with the NHKSO in thirty years. Eschenbach is a perfectionist, an exacting conductor who pays attention to the minutest of details to polish the sound for a consummate performance. Be amazed at the virtuosity of an orchestra that presents very different interpretations of symphonies by the same composer reflecting the zeitgeist and the style of the conductor.