Herbert Blomstedt well understands the virtues of simplicity, making this direct and refreshing performance of Brahms"s ubiquitous choral masterpiece the best available since the famous Klemperer/EMI recording. Without feeling any need to indulge in saccharine expressiveness, the Swedish conductor"s work is all the more moving for being so excitingly played and sung. No funereal gloom here, just the sweet solace that Brahms clearly intended. --David Hurwitz