Johannes Brahms

Brahms's early musical gifts were brought to the attention of virtuouso violinists Eduard Remenyi and Joseph Joachim. Joachim introduced the young composer to Robert and Clara Schumann who did much to further his subsequent career. Brahms' fame was secured by his massive choral work Ein deutsches Requiem (1868). Four Symphonies followed over a period of nine years from 1876 to 1885 and which are generally regarded as the finest efforts in the genre after Beethoven. At the same time he was writing a quantity of superb chamber music and lieder.

Now based in Vienna, Brahms 'retired' from composition in 1890 but returned to the stave to compose his Clarinet Quintet, one of his most sublime works. He died in 1897 at the young age of 57. Brahms, upheld the classical values in music in an era when Wagner and his acolytes pressed ahead with their radical agenda to transform it.

Key Works: Hungarian Dances, Symphonies Nos. 1 - 4, Piano Concerto Nos. 1 & 2, Violin Concerto, Clarinet Quintet, Piano Quartets Nos. 1 - 3, String Quartet No. 3, Horn Trio, Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2, Clarinet Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2, 4 Ballades, Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 - 3, Four Serious Songs, Liebeslieder, Alto Rhapsody, Eine deutsches Requeim, Triumphlied

Key Artists: Claudio Abbado, Janet Baker, Kathleen Ferrier, Emil Gilels, Hans Hotter, Herbert von Karajan, Julius Katchen, Carlos Kleiber, Jessye Norman, David Oistrakh, Svistolav Richter

Influenced by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Mozart, Palestrina, Schutz

Influenced: Dvorak, Elgar, Parry, Schoenberg