The first of a two-week biography exploring the music and life of a defining voice of the German Romantic Era. In his formative year as a pianist, Brahms befriends Robert and Clara Schumann, and with their support and later with the violinist Joseph Joachim, develops his musical voice. Bill speaks of Brahms’ struggles to publish symphonies on the heels of Beethoven‑ his two orchestra serenades were played publicly twenty years before his four symphonies. We end this first part of Brahms’ story with the German Requiem.
Brahms, Johannes, Part I
Playlist
Episode 1
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15
III. Rondo (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/ Rudolf Kempe, Jakob Gimmel, piano
Brahms
His Master’s Voice XLP 20010
2:00
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 21, “Waldstein”(excerpt)
Stephen Kovacevich, piano
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Op 53, 78, & 110 / Kovacevich
EMI 54896
:59
Schumann, Robert: Paradies und die Peri (excerpts)
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique/ Gardiner Barbara Bonney, soprano
Schumann: Das Paradies Und Die Peri / John Eliot Gardiner
Archiv Produktion 457660
:27
Schumann, Robert: Paradies und die Peri (excerpts)
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique/ Gardiner Barbara Bonney, soprano
Schumann: Das Paradies Und Die Peri / John Eliot Gardiner
Archiv Produktion 457660
2:09
Schumann, Robert: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54 (excerpt)
Chamber Orchestra of Europe/ Harnoncourt; Martha Argerich, piano
Piano Concerto / Violin Concerto
Teldec 90696
1:38
Hubay, Jenő: On the Waves of the Balaton (excerpt)
Ensemble/Roby Lakatos, violin
Hejre Kati – Works by Liszt, Brahms, Kálmán, Hubay
Qualiton LPX 10077
2:50
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Quartet in G Minor, Op. 25, IV (excerpt)
Kremer, violin; Bashmet, viola; Maisky, violin cello; Argerich, piano
Argerich – Kremer – Bashmet – Maisky
DG 463700
:31
Brahms, Johannes: Scherzo in E-Flat Minor, Op. 4
Krystian Zimerman, piano
Great Pianist of the 20th Century – Krystian Zimerman
Phil 456 997
9:35
Chopin, Frédéric: Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat minor, Op. 31 (excerpt)
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
Rubinstein plays Chopin
RCA 687122
:24
Liszt, Franz: Piano Sonata in B Minor, S 178, (excerpt)
Martha Argerich, piano
Début Recital / Martha Argerich
DG 447430
3:38
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1, I. (excerpt)
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 – Teatro Del Bibiena, Mantova, 1987
Lon 436457
00:15
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1, I. Allegro
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 – Teatro Del Bibiena, Mantova, 1987
Lon 436457
11:40
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1, I. Allegro (excerpt)
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 – Teatro Del Bibiena, Mantova, 1987
Lon 436457
00:15
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 29, “Hammerklavier” (excerpt)
Richard Goode, piano
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas / Richard Goode
Nonesuch 79328
:15
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1, II. Andante (excerpt)
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 – Teatro Del Bibiena, Mantova, 1987
Lon 436457
5:23
Schubert, Franz: Die Winterreise “Der Leiermann” (excerpt)
Matthias Goerne, baritone; Alfred Brendel, piano
Die Winterreise
Decca 467 092-2
:40
Brahms, Johannes: “Liebestreu”, Op. 3 No. 1
Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano; Roger Vignoles, piano
Brahms – Lieder
HM 901926
2:02
Brahms, Johannes: “Frühling”, Op. 6 No. 2
Elly Ameling, soprano; Dalton Baldwin, piano
Elly Ameling Sings Brahms Lieder
Philips 9500 398
3:24
Episode 2
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 (excerpts)
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 – Teatro Del Bibiena, Mantova, 1987
Lon 436457
3:13
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 (excerpts)
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 – Teatro Del Bibiena, Mantova, 1987
Lon 436457
:35
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 III. (excerpts)
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 – Teatro Del Bibiena, Mantova, 1987
Lon 436457
3:54
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 (excerpts)
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 – Teatro Del Bibiena, Mantova, 1987
Lon 436457
1:41
Brahms, Johannes: F.A.E Sonata for Violin and Piano, Scherzo
Nathan Milstein, violin; Carlo Bussotti, piano
Milstein Encores
EMI 66872
4:25
Beethoven, Ludwig: Symphony 5 (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Solti
Beethoven
Decca 5510
:06
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8, I
Henryk Szeryng, violin; Pierre Fournier, violin cello; Rubinstein, piano
Piano Trios 1 & 2
RCA 63072
10:28
Schumann, Clara: Romance Nos. 1 & 3, Op. 22
Van Keulen, violin; Ronald Brautigam, piano
Isabelle Van Keulen / Ronald Brautigam – Sonatas for Violin and Piano – Brahms R & C
Koch 3-6554-2
6:01
Brahms, Johannes: Serenade No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11 I. II. IV. (excerpts)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/ Mackerras
Brahms: Serenades No 1 & 2 / Charles Mackerras, Scottish
Telarc 80522
19:42
Episode 3
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Trio in B Major, II. (excerpt)
Henryk Szeryng, violin Pierre Fournier, violoncello; Arthur Rubinstein, piano
Trios, Opus 8 in B Major/ Opus 87 in C Major
RCA 63072
00:41
Beethoven, van Ludwig: Symphony No. 9
CSO/ Solti
Beethoven Symphonies
Decca 417 800
00:26
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15, I.
Cleveland Orchestra/Szell; Leon Fleisher, piano
Leon Fleisher plays Beethoven and Brahms
Sony 1918052
21:17
Beethoven, van Ludwig: Violin Concerto (excerpt)
Tonhalle Orchestra/Zinman Tetlaff
00:33
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15, II.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Reiner Arthur Rubinstein, piano
Piano Concerto No 1; Capriccio, Intermezzo; Rhapsody
RCA 63034
13:17
Brahms, Johannes: Serenade No. 2 in A Major I. and V.
New York Philharmonic/ Bernstein
Brahms: Symphony No 1 / Serenade No 2 Bernstein Century
Sony 60970
14:52
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15, III. (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Reiner Arthur Rubinstein, piano
Piano Concerto No 1; Capriccio, Intermezzo; Rhapsody
RCA 63034
3:00
Episode 4
Brahms, Johannes: Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 32, “Nicht mehr zu Dir zu gehen”
Thomas Quasthoff, bass baritone; Justus Zeyen, piano
Lieder
DG 463 183
2:58
Brahms, Johannes: String Sextet in G Major, Op. 36 IV. Finale
Berlin Philharmonic Octet
Brahms: Complete Chamber Music
Philips 454073
6:59
Brahms, Johannes: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45,
I. “Blessed are they who bear suffering”
II. “For all flesh, it is as grass”
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/ Klemperer; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem/ Klemperer, Schwarzkopf
EMI 66955
24:25
Brahms, Johannes: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45,
III. “Lord, teach me” “How lovely are thy dwellings”
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/ Klemperer; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem/ Klemperer, Schwarzkopf
EMI 66955
15:32
Brahms, Johannes: String Sextet in G Major, Op. 36, I. (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmonic Octet
Brahms: Complete Chamber Music
Philips 454073
00:35
Brahms, Johannes: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45,
IV. “How lovely are thy dwellings” (excerpt)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/ Klemperer; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem/ Klemperer, Schwarzkopf
EMI 66955
1:38
Episode 5
Brahms, Johannes: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45, V.
Berlin Philharmonic/ Rattle; Dorothea Röschmann, soprano
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem
EMI 65393
7:32
Brahms, Johannes: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45, VI. & VII.
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/ Klemperer
Brahms – Ein Deutsches Requiem – Otto Klemperer
EMI 66955
21:54
Brahms, Johannes: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 38, I.
Leonard Rose, violoncello, Jean-Bernard Pommier, piano
Cello Sonatas
Virgin 90750
15:10
Brahms, Johannes: Waltzes for Piano Four Hands, Op. 39 No. 1-3
Martha Argerich, Piano; Alexandre Rabinovich, piano
Brahms: Haydn Variations
Teldec 92257
3:51
Brahms, Johannes: Waltz in A Major, Op. 39, No. 15
Nathan Milstein, violin; Leon Pommers, piano
Milstein Encores
EMI 66872
1:27
Brahms, Johannes: “Wiegenlied” Op. 49, No. 4
Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano; Forsberg, piano
Lieder
DG 429727
1:53
Brahms, Johannes: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45, VII. (excerpt)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/ Klemperer
Brahms – Ein Deutsches Requiem – Otto Klemperer
EMI 66955
1:00