Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 / Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
Brahms's First is one of the Romantic period's musical Everests, and a surprisingly difficult piece to bring off. Sir Charles Mackerras, adapting a scholarly approach to performance practice allied to his unfailingly musical instincts, delivers a really exciting reading in which his great freedom in terms of tempo never prevents the music from surging forward with the necessary passion. It's an absolute clinic on the art of conducting, and a great recording of this ever-popular symphony.--David Hurwitz