Brahms I Segerstam

Leif Segerstam · Turku Philharmonic Orchestra · Johannes Brahms

2016 · Physical and digital · ABCD 390

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Credits

Performers: Leif Segerstam — Conductor, PianoTurku Philharmonic Orchestra
Composers: Johannes BrahmsLeif Segerstam
Conductors and other contributors: Leif Segerstam — Conductor

About this release

Watch the introductory video here.
Ville Komppa's review of the album Ylen Uudet levyt in the program. Read or listen to the review HERE
Brahms's first symphony, one of the greatest warhorses in orchestral literature, sounds convincing in the hands of the Turku Philharmonic and Leif Segerstam. Now you're not looking for chambering or slick Brahms-lite. The drama of the symphony is given time to grow and culminate, and Segerstam encourages the people of Turku to even more cultivated playing, which Alba has beautifully captured in her multi-channel recording. The interpretation has a romantic glow, but it respects the classical concept, culminating in the xxxl-wide chorale repetition of the finale. Segerstam's own symphony no. 288 is heard as the second number of the album, and although the cover image looks for similarity between the composers, it may not be found in the works. That's okay, because Segerstam's "Letting the FLOW fo on..." must be taken on its own terms anyway. Performers and listeners have to dive into this flow, like a composer, and it rewards by carrying everyone towards a freedom stripped of prejudices, constraints, pulse and stress (clothes?)."
Rondo Classic/Antti Häyrynen 7/2016

Tracks

Symphony No. 1
1.Un poco sostenuto – Allegrocomp. Johannes BrahmsISRC FIABA160011716:28
2.Andante sostenutocomp. Johannes BrahmsISRC FIABA16001189:56
3.Un poco allegretto e graziosocomp. Johannes BrahmsISRC FIABA16001195:42
4.Adagio – Più andante – Allegro non troppo, ma con briocomp. Johannes BrahmsISRC FIABA160012018:42
5.Symphony No. 288, “Letting the FLOW go on..."comp. Leif SegerstamISRC FIABA160012120:44

Reviews

This ALBA disc offers a performance of Symphony No. 1 by Brahms coupled with Segerstam’s Symphony No. 288 subtitled “Letting the FLOW go on.” This is a 21-nunute singe movement work of stultifying dissonance with heavy percussion throughout.
ClassicalCDReview.com · Robert Benson · September 5, 2016
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Segerstam is an excellent conductor, a champion of Pettersson (his BIS Symphony 8 is incredible), and a formidable musician.
American Record Guide · Allen Gimbel · November 4, 2016
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No doubt that will annoy a lot of people. (Good.) As for the Brahms (which, after all, is twice the length of the Segerstam), it’s a heck of a good performance—not distinctive, in the literal sense, but very, very satisfying.
Fanfare · Raymond Tuttle · December 16, 2016
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So entspannt und vielleicht schon zu unangestrengt der Brahms, so anstrengend ist dann doch der von den im Einzel hervorragend aufspielenden Musikern aus Turku ausgenutzte Überaktionismus im Freiraum Segerstams.
www.klassik.com · Dr. Hartmut Hein · December 20, 2016
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Critics’ Choice 2017
We asked our writers to list the best 10 percent of what they reviewed in 2017 issues, maximum 10. This is “forced choice”—meaning that most of us would rather be allowed a few more top choices, so we have to cut down our preliminary lists. Some of us never list reissues; most of us only list music we really like, even if there were great recordings of music we like less.
Allen Gimbel
BRAHMS: Symphony 1 (Segerstam) Alba 390, J/F
JOHNSON,CH: Considering Matthew Shepard…
American Record Guide · January 10, 2018
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Orkesterikirjallisuuden suurimpiin sotaratsuihin kuuluva Brahmsin ensimmäinen sinfonia kuulostaa vakuuttavalta Turun filharmonisen ja Leif Segerstamin käsissä. Nyt ei etsitä kamarisointia tai liukasta Brahms-liteä. Sinfonian draamalle annetaan aikaa kasvaa ja kulminoitua, ja Segerstam kannustaa turkulaisia peräti kultivoituneeseen soittoon, jonka Alba on vanginnut hienosti monikanavaäänitykseensä. Tulkinnassa on romanttista hehkua, mutta se kunnioittaa klassista konseptia, joka huipentuu…
Antti Häyrynen 7/2016 · Rondo Classic
” Turun filharmonisen orkesterin uusin levytysprojekti ylikapellimestari Leif Segerstamin kanssa sisältää Johannes Brahmsin ja Segerstamin tuotantoa. 19.5. julkaistavalla levyllä, sarjan ensimmäisellä levyllä, kuullaan Brahmsin täysromanttinen 1.sinfonia ja Segerstamin vielä kantaesittämätön sinfonia nurmero 288. ”Letting the FLOW go on..” Segerstamin sinfonian kantaesitys kuullaan Turussa konsertissa 6.lokakuuta. Kokonaisuudessaan levytysprojekti tulee käsittämään neljä sinfoniaa kummaltakin säveltäjältä. Levysarja on turkulaisen Alba levy-yhtiön julkaisema.”
Veli-Matti Henttonen 17.5.2016 · Salon Seudun Sanomat