D.  Stephen Heersink commented that he has seven different versions of the
Brahms symphonies "and I still don't like Brahms' symphonies."

Although there might be no version that would satisfy Stephen, I would
suggest checking out Mackerras, Harnoncourt, and Thomas Sanderling.  Each
of the three avoids the traditional bloated approach to some degree, and
invests these works with some interesting ideas.  I basically felt the same
way as Stephen until recent years.  I'd listen to a Brahms symphony and
feel nothing; no longer.

Don Satz
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