The German Requiem

With premieres looming in Bremen Cathedral, Johannes Brahms finally completes his German Requiem. Presented by Donald Macleod

German composer Johannes Brahms became a significant figure in Western music during his own lifetime, and has retained this position ever since. His works were performed throughout Europe, the UK and the USA, and displayed much passion in keeping with the musical language of the mid to late nineteenth century. Donald Macleod this week explores some of the larger orchestral works Brahms composed, taking on the mantle from Beethoven and Schubert, and the periods in which they were written. The series includes the First Piano Concerto, his German Requiem, concertos for violin, and for violin and cello, and also his third and fourth symphonies.

During the late 1860s Brahms was preoccupied with completing his German Requiem, in readiness for its premiere at Bremen Cathedral in 1868. He was the first German composer to choose and shape his texts from sources other than the burial service, to convey a message about grief and death. Clara Schumann attended the premiere, as did the composer Max Bruch. During this same period Brahms had fallen in love again, this time with Clara's daughter Julie, who inspired him to write his love songs the Liebeslieder Waltzes.

Ein deutsches Requiem, Op 45 (1st mvt)
Arnold Schoenberg Choir
Vienna Philharmonic
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Piano Quintet in F minor, Op 34 (3rd mvt)
Tokyo String Quartet
Jon Nakamatsu, piano

Ein deutsches Requiem, Op 45 (3rd mvt)
Thomas Hampson, baritone
Arnold Schoenberg Choir
Vienna Philharmonic
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op 52 (Nos 1-9)
Edith Mathis, soprano
Brigitte Fassbaender, alto
Peter Schreier, tenor
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
Karl Engel, piano
Wolfgang Sawallisch, piano

Ein deutsches Requiem, Op 45 (5th mvt)
Genia Kühmeier, soprano
Arnold Schoenberg Choir
Vienna Philharmonic
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Producer Luke Whitlock.