Donald Macleod explores the lifelong friendship between Brahms and the great violin virtuoso Joseph Joachim - and the music of genius that resulted.
Throughout his life, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) enjoyed the close friendship of two kindred musical spirits: the pianist Clara Schumann and the violinist Joseph Joachim. Yet whilst his relationship with the former is much-pored over - friends, colleagues, maybe lovers? - his deep musical connection with Joachim is often passed over. This week, Donald Macleod explores the adventures, trials and tribulations that Brahms and Joachim encountered through their four decade-long association and the musical masterpieces for violin that resulted. Donald presents the three movements of the Violin Concerto across three days in three utterly beguiling, and very different, recordings by Vadim Gluzman, David Oistrakh and Janine Jansen; plus, Friday brings a complete performance of the often-overlooked Double Concerto for Violin and Cello. In between, we'll hear all three violin sonatas in their entirety and a host of jewels from Brahms's chamber output - plus a rare piano-duet performance of his First Symphony by the Duo Crommelynck, and on Friday, a guest appearance from Brahms and Joachim themselves.
Donald Macleod ends this week celebrating the unique relationship between Johannes Brahms and Joseph Joachim - and the musical riches that emerged from it - with the story of the pair's reconciliation, culminating in the effervescent Double Concerto for violin and cello - the last orchestral work Brahms would ever write.
Brahms (arr Joachim)
Hungarian Dance No 1
Joseph Joachim, violin
[unknown pianist]
Wie Melodien zieht es mir, Op 105
Ann Murray, mezzo
Malcolm Martineau, piano
Immer leiser; Klage; Auf dem Kirchhofe; Verrat, Op 105
Ann Murray, mezzo
Malcolm Martineau, piano
Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op 102
Julia Fischer, violin
Daniel Müller-Schott, cello
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Yakov Kreizberg, conductor
Produced by Steven Rajam for BBC Wales. Show less