Vote for your favorite Brahms symphony.
I love them all, but the first symphony is my favorite. The first movement of the first symphony is pure listening bliss.
I love them all as well, gave the nudge to the fourth.
Yes, they are all masterpieces, But I have to vote for #3 because of the third movement . . . especially the Szell/Cleveland recording.
What he said.
Tough choice between 1 and 4, but I’m going with #1. Some really daring moves in this one: the incredible pounding opening, the spooky pizzicato theme at the beginning of the last movement. Here are the lyrics to the big tune from the last movement, courtesy of Josefa Heifetz:
The sandwich that Plato found worthy of any god
Was bacon, tomato, and slices of avocad-
o.