Christmas with
Johannes Brahms
Born May 7 , 1833 in Hamburg , Germany Died April 3 , 1897 in Vienna , Austria
PIANO CONCERTO NO . 1 [ 1858 ]
“ Went very well … Almost all of it sounds beautiful , some parts far more beautiful even than Johannes himself imagined or expected .” So wrote Clara Schumann : critically acclaimed pianist , active composer , wife of Robert Schumann , and staunch advocate of emerging composer Johannes Brahms . But her praise for his first piano concerto in her letter to a friend was not replicated in audience and critical reception .
When Brahms debuted the work in Hanover in 1859 , the audience was less than receptive ; his performances in Leipzig faired a little better : there was one positive review . Schumann would add the concerto to her repertoire but programmed it inconsistently , once in 1861 and again in 1874 . Not because she had lost respect for it , but because she was frustrated with audience reaction . Following the 1861 performance , she noted in her diary : “ the public understood nothing and felt nothing , otherwise it must have shown proper respect .”
Was this so different from what audiences and critics expected from a concerto ? In some ways , yes . In length , content , and balance , Brahms ’ Piano Concerto No . 1 suggested new possibilities in the concerto genre . In the Maestoso , Brahms uses thematic development as the driving factor rather than a clear melody , an approach that is present even in the cadenza . The Adagio is meditative and reverent in character , while the Rondo : Allegro non troppo is energetic and driving . This last movement features some of the most lyrical moments in the entire work . Brahms ’ conversational structure is most apparent here , an approach that would appear in other concertos of Brahms ’ era that pushed the concerto in new , exciting directions .
Instrumentation Two flutes , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , four horns , two trumpets , one timpani , and piano .
CHORAL ARTS
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NOV-DEC 2023 / OVERTURE 27