Undoubtedly one of the greatest of all choral works, Johannes Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) is deeply moving and profound. This remarkable masterpiece for choir and orchestra was the composer’s first major success and was to make him famous.

 

Initially having six movements and requiring just a single (baritone) soloist, its first public performance was given in Bremen Cathedral on Good Friday 1868 to a huge congregation of some 2,500. Further performances soon followed but before long Brahms realised that the overall balance of the work needed improvement. Accordingly, he composed an additional movement featuring a soprano soloist. The work’s popularity was such that he soon also created the version for piano duet that we will be performing.

 

The concert will also include two further exquisite works: the song-cycle Les Nuits d’Été by Hector Berlioz and Schubert’s Fantasia in F minor for piano duet.

 

Les Nuits d’Été, originally composed for solo voice and piano, will feature the soprano Rebecca Bottone who received a glowing review for her performance of the orchestral version of the work given last May with Alina Orchestra at The Stables Theatre, conducted by Hilary Davan Wetton. The cycle was neglected for many years, but during the 20th century it was rediscovered and has become one of Berlioz's best-loved works.

 

Schubert’s Fantasia in F minor, composed in 1828, the last year of his life, has been described as one of Schubert’s greatest compositions for piano duet. It was dedicated to his pupil Caroline Esterházy, with whom Schubert was thought to be in (unrequited) love. It will be performed by our two fine pianists, Tim Grant-Jones and John Witchell.