Streams und Videos-on-Demand: Monumental Brahms

Originally the slow movement to his String Quartet No.1, Kernis’ heartfelt music, expanded for full strings, was inspired by the serene beauty of medieval music and imagined sound of angels singing in heaven. It’s parallel to Barber’s Adagio is instantly apparent. Mozart’s Symphony No.39 opens grandly, with a darkly dramatic introduction in which orchestral texture and harmonic dissonance increase to near breaking point. This gives way to superlatively crafted work of contrasting melodic invention and rhythmic and contrapuntal exploration. The origins of this concerto, Brahms’ first symphonic work, can be traced to 1854, when the composer heard a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It is directly inspired by that revolutionary monolith and its own large scale is particularly evident in the tremendous and unconventional first movement, filled with an almost over-abundance of themes. The effect is exhilarating and entirely unexpected which perhaps explains its early poor reception. The following meditative adagio is the most sublime of slow movements, whilst the final rondo has a brusque, even baroque momentum all its own.

BSO Digital Concerts are available to watch either as a simultaneous live event or on demand for 30 days after the performance date. To watch simply click on the 'My digital library' button at the top of the page and log in to your account (if you are not already) where you will find all digital events available to you.