Donald Macleod explores Brahms’s early encounters with Robert and Clara Schumann.

Brahms was a deeply private man and very guarded about his life, his friends and his feelings. Across this week, Donald goes “Behind Closed Doors” with Brahms to discover what really made him tick. He finds friends, mentors and lovers along the way who together help solve the enigma of the composer.

Clara Schumann is probably the person Brahms was closest to in his life. Today, we explore their first meeting, and how she was in awe of the young composer’s talent from the start.

2 Gavottes, WoO 3 (Nos 1 and 2)
Louis Demetrius Alvanis, piano

Piano Sonata No 1 in C major, Op 1 (1. Allegro)
Sviatoslav Richter, piano

6 Songs, Op 3 (Nos 2 and 3)
Benjamin Appl, baritone
Graham Johnson, piano

Piano Quartet, Op 25 (3rd and 4th movements)
Emanuel Ax, Piano
Isaac Stern, Violin
Jamie Laredo, Viola
Yo-yo Ma, Cello

String Sextet No 1in B flat major, Op 18 (2nd movement)
Amadeus Quartet

Producer: Glyn Tansley for BBC Wales Show less