NY Philharmonic Open Rehearsal Thursday

I was fortunate to be among the sparse turn out for Thursday's NYPhil Open Rehearsal (I'm sure due to Stormy Weather.)  "Keeps rainin' all the time.  Life is bare, gloom and mis'ry everywhere, Stormy Weather." (S. Cahn)   The rehearsal was a respite from all the destruction & despair.  Maestro Kurt Masur conducted for the first time since retiring and was greeted with a warm, illustrious welcome.  The program was the musical, romantic Brahms:  Concerto for Violin & Cello and Symphony #2.  The guest Cellist, Carter Brey was unable to battle the inclement weather, but for those of us who braved the elements, we were rewarded by the rich & melodious music of Johannes Brahms.  Although Brahms himself always felt inferior to the behemoth musical genius of Beethoven, Brahms greatly undermined his magnificient symphonies.  There was much joyous laughter amongst the musicians who welcomed Masure back.  Masur in turn, made several breaks in the rehearsal and beautifully hummed the inflections he wanted from his orchestra.  Listening to Brahms music performed by the NY Philharmonic "…put the sun up in the sky," at least temporarily.