At the last concert he gave with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, grand seigneur Herbert Blomstedt declared that he would definitely be bringing »some beautiful music« with him again next time. Eleven months later, the nonagenarian conductor – greatly admired the  world over for his remarkable musical energy – is back on the rostrum for a performance of a work that is nothing if not beautiful. Lyrical, melodic and cheerful as it is, Brahms's Second Symphony can be described as his »Pastoral«, even if the composer himself referred to it as »a charming monster«. read less