There is certainly no shortage of recordings of these two popular symphonies, but the and its mop-top young conductor deliver worthwhile alternatives on this 2023 release, which made classical best-seller lists in the autumn of that year. works especially well at a moderate orchestra size like 's 50 players, stripping some of the philosophical ponderousness from the , and derailing the temptation of an over-the-top finale of the . Instead, forges a crisp sound, with an avoidance of vibrato, perhaps inspired by the historical performance movement. He brings out a lot of 's beautiful wind writing, elsewhere sometimes hidden among thundering strings. The symphony is arguably the more successful of the two, striking a quiet, reverent note in this work that not only quotes Lutheran chorales but also evokes Renaissance polyphony. The work comes across as a meditative reflection on the development of Protestant spirituality in music. 's sound from Caird Hall in Dundee is excellent in this distinctive release. ~ James Manheim