Werther's Woes...and First Maturity
Donald Macleod explores Brahms's renewed creativity after his six-year hiatus following the suicide attempt of his mentor Robert Schumann. Including a rare work for female choir.
After the shattering suicide attempt of his mentor Robert Schumann, Brahms didn't publish a new work for nearly six years - a wretched period in the career of music's new hottest property. Yet the flirty attentions of the composer's much-beloved Hamburg Ladies' Choir finally rejuvenated his creative juices in 1859, at the tender age of 26. In this second programme episode, Donald Macleod explores Brahms's renewed creative maturity, beginning with a rare work for 'his ladies' accompanied by harp and horns.
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Music Played
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Johannes Brahms
Es tönt ein voller Harfenklang, for female voices, horns and harp, Op.17 no.1
Performer: Members of the Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor), Anthony Halstead, Christian Rutherford (horns); Delyth Wynne (harp)
- PHILIPS 4311522.
- 19.
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Johannes Brahms
Sextet for Strings in B Flat Major Opus 18; (1859-60 / 1860)
Performer: Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
- PHILIPS 4202562.
- 1 to 4.
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Johannes Brahms
Horn Trio, Op.40: III. Adagio mesto, IV. Finale – Allegro con brio
Performer: Aubrey Brain (horn), Adolf Busch (violin), Rudolf Serkin (piano)
- TESTAMENT SBT1001.
- 3 to 4.
Broadcasts
- Tue 23 Sep 200812:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 23 Sep 200822:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 31 Aug 201012:00BBC Radio 3
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