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Brahms spent over 21 years writing his first symphony and no symphony opens quite like it. Loud, powerful and passionate, this melody grabs your attention immediately. The years Brahms laboured over and reworked his first symphony evidently served to increase its potency. The protracted finale is almost uncomfortably fierce - a feverish and turbulent movement offering only brief respite in the familiar melody borrowed from Beethoven. Composer: Johannes Brahms Performers: Â鶹Éç National Orchestra of Wales Conductor: Tadaaki Otaka Recording date: 08 October 2014 Date of broadcast: 08 October 2014