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Donald Macleod introduces works associated with some of the most important people in Brahms's life.

Brahms regularly fell in and out of love but never married. And, in spite of his sometimes brusque and arrogant manner, he also cultivated many friendships in the course of his life and inspired great loyalty in the friends he made. He formed a particularly strong bond with Elizabeth von Herzogenberg whose musical judgement he greatly valued. Donald Macleod introduces works associated with some of the most important of his friends including a Rhapsody and a vocal quartet dedicated to Elizabeth von Herzogenberg, two songs for voice, viola and piano presented as a peace offering to his lifelong friend the violin Joseph Joachim, and two songs - one woven into Brahms's second violin sonata - for the singer Hermine Spies.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Johannes Brahms

    Komm bald (op97 no.5)

    Performers: Juliane Banse (soprano) Helmut Deutsch (piano)

    • CPO 999 448-2.
    • 16.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Violin Sonata no.2 in A, op.100 - First movement

    Performers: Anthony Marwood (violin) Aleksandar Madžar (piano)

    • Wigmore Hall: WHLIVE0050.
    • 4.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Gesange for alto, viola and piano op.91 - No.1: Gestillte Sehnsucht

    Performers: Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo soprano) Bengt Forsberg (piano) Nils-Erik Sparf (viola)

    • DG 429 727-2.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Gesange for alto, viola and piano op.91 - No.2: Geistliches Wiegenlied

    Performers: Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo soprano) Bengt Forsberg (piano) Nils-Erik Sparf (viola)

    • DG 429 727-2.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Rhapsody op 79 no 2

    Performers: Murray Perahia (piano)

    • Sony: 88697727252.
    • 2.
  • Johannes Brahms

    4 Quartets op.92 No.1 O schone Nacht

    Performers: Edith Mathis (soprano) Brigitte Fassbaender (alto) Peter Schreier (tenor) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)

    • DG 449 641-2.
  • Johannes Brahms

    4 Quartets op.92 No.2 Spatherbst

    Performers: Edith Mathis (soprano) Brigitte Fassbaender (alto) Peter Schreier (tenor) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)

    • DG 449 641-2.
  • Johannes Brahms

    4 Quartets op.92 No.3 Abendlied

    Performers: Edith Mathis (soprano) Brigitte Fassbaender (alto) Peter Schreier (tenor) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)

    • DG 449 641-2.
  • Johannes Brahms

    4 Quartets op.92 No.4 Warum?

    Performers: Edith Mathis (soprano) Brigitte Fassbaender (alto) Peter Schreier (tenor) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)

    • DG 449 641-2.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Nanie op.82

    Performers: Edith Mathis (soprano) Brigitte Fassbaender (alto) Peter Schreier (tenor) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)

    • RCA: 09026 61201 2.
    • 3.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 20 Dec 2012 12:00
  • Thu 20 Dec 2012 18:30

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