Brahms in Vienna

Synopsis

The Viennese are notorious for the passion with which they can despise composers one moment – and lionize them the next. Here, for example, is one music critic’s reaction to the 1886 Viennese premiere of the Symphony No. 4 by Johannes Brahms:

“Conspicuous is the crab-like progress in the output of Brahms. It has, to be sure, never reached beyond the level of mediocrity, but such nothingness, emptiness, and hypocrisy as prevails throughout this symphony has not appeared in any previous work of Brahms so alarmingly. The art of composing without ideas has decidedly found in Brahms its worthiest representative. Just like the good Lord, Herr Brahms is a master at making something from nothing.”

And yet, 11 years later, on today’s date in 1897, when this same symphony was performed again in Vienna, each movement was greeted by prolonged cheers from the audience. Not only had the Viennese come to admire the music, but they knew the now-beloved Herr Brahms was dying. And so, when the gaunt and sickly composer attended a matinee performance of his 4th symphony at the Vienna Philharmonic’s Golden Hall, the audience took the opportunity to acknowledge him and his music for the very last time.

Music Played in Today's Program

Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897) — Symphony No 4 in e (Vienna Philharmonic; Carlos Kleiber, cond.) DG 457 706

On This Day

Births

• 1574 - Baptism of English madrigalist John Wilbye, in Diss (Norfolk);

• 1875 - French composer Maurice Ravel, in Ciboure;

• 1887 - Estonian composer Heino Eller, in Tartu;

Deaths

• 1786 - Bohemian-born composer and violinist Franz [František] Benda, age c. 77, in Nowawes, near Potsdam; He was active at the court of King Frederich II of Prussia;

• 1809 - Austrian composer and organist Johann Georg Albrechtsberger, age 73, in Vienna;

• 1979 - Norwegian composer Klaus Egge, age 72, in Oslo;

Premieres

• 1711 - Handel: opera, "Rinaldo," in London (Julian date: Feb. 24);

• 1730 - Handel: opera "Partenope," in London (Julian date: Feb. 24);

• 1819 - Rossini: opera "Mosè in Egitto" (Moses in Egypt) (2nd version in Italian), in Naples at the Teatro San Carlo;

• 1867 - Brahms: Scherzo in eb, Op. 4, for piano, in Vienna;

• 1883 - Balakirev: symphonic poem "Tamara" (Gregorian date: Mar. 19);

• 1884 - Chadwick: "Scherzo" in F (from Chadwick's Symphony No. 2, a work in progress), by the Boston Symphony, George Henschel conducting; The entire symphony was premiered by the same orchestra on Dec. 10, 1886, with the composer conducting;

• 1892 - Tchaikovsky: "The Nutcracker" Suite, in St. Petersburg (Gregorian date: Mar. 19);

• 1896 - Gilbert & Sullivan: operetta "The Grand Duke" at the Savoy Theatre in London;

• 1899 - d'Indy: "Chansons et danses" for winds, in Paris;

• 1953 - Persichetti: "Pageant" for band, in Miami;

• 1958 - Piston: Viola Concerto, by the Boston Symphony, Charles Munch conducting;

• 1965 - Easley Blackwood: Symphony No. 3, in Chicago;

• 1971 - Menotti: opera "The Most Important Man," at the New York City Opera;

• 1980 - Daniel Pinkham: "Serenades" for trumpet and winds, at Harvard University's Sanders Theater in Cambridge, Mass., by trumpeter Rolf Smedvig and the Harvard Wind Ensemble conducted by Thomas Everett;

• 2001 - Harbison: "Partita (Concerto for Orchestra)," in Minneapolis, by the Minnesota Orchestra, Yan Pascal Tortelier conducting;

• 2002 - Colgrass: "Crossworlds" (Concerto for Flute, Piano and Orchestra), commissioned by the Boston Symphony for flutist Marina Piccinini and pianist Andreas Haefliger, with Hans Graf conducting;

Others

• 1897 - Johannes Brahms attends his last concerts and hears his Symphony No. 4 conducted by Hans Richter.