Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68

Johannes Brahms, a consummate pianist, began composing Symphony No. 1 in 1854, and it took him 21 years to complete it in Vienna, Austria. Symphonic composing under the shadow of Beethoven, at the time considered to be the greatest composer in the Western classical tradition, dominated Brahms’ thoughts as his self-critical assessments of his own Symphony held him back from finishing his masterpiece earlier. Leary of the criticisms of music critics, the first performance of his Symphony No. 1 was moved from Vienna to Karisruhe, Germany, on November 4th 1876. It was conducted by his friend, Felix Otto Dessoff. The Symphony runs for about 50 minutes, and it was well received and highly regarded for its lyricism and thematic unity. Today, with his Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Brahms is considered alongside Beethoven, as one of the great composers of the classical era.
 
Here a few introductory albums on Brahms’ Symphony No. 1:
Brahms Symphony No. 1 & Tragic Overture, Herbert Blomstedt with Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Label: Pentatone.
 
Brahms Symphony No. 1, John Eliot Gardiner with the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique. Label: SDG.
 
Brahms The Symphonies, Riccardo Chailly with Gewandhausorchester. Label: Decca.
 
Brahms 4 Symphonien, Claudio Abbado with Berliner Philharmoniker. Lanel: Deutsche Grammophon.
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Reference: Howard, O., (2018), Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 Johannes Brahms, LA Phil. 
https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/3903/symphony-no-1-in-c-minor-op-68