Johannes Brahms

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Biography

Born: 1833   Died: 1897   Country: Germany   Period: Romantic
The stature of Johannes Brahms among classical composers is well illustrated by his inclusion among the "Three Bs" triumvirate of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. Of all the major composers of the late Romantic era, Brahms was the one most attached to the Classical ideal as manifested in the music of Haydn, Mozart, and especially Beethoven; indeed, Hans von Bülow once characterized Brahms' Symphony No. 1 (1855-1876) as "Beethoven's Tenth." As a Read more youth, Brahms was championed by Robert Schumann as music's greatest hope for the future; as a mature composer, Brahms became for conservative musical journalists the most potent symbol of musical tradition, a stalwart against the "degeneration" represented by the music of Wagner and his school. Brahms' symphonies, choral and vocal works, chamber music, and piano pieces are imbued with strong emotional feeling, yet take shape according to a thoroughly considered structural plan.

The son of a double bassist in the Hamburg Philharmonic Society, Brahms demonstrated great promise from the beginning. He began his musical career as a pianist, contributing to the family coffers as a teenager by playing in restaurants, taverns, and even brothels. Though by his early twenties he enjoyed associations with luminaries like violinists Eduard Reményi and Joseph Joachim, the friend and mentor who was most instrumental in advancing his career was Schumann, who all but adopted him and became his most ardent partisan, and their esteem was mutual. Following Schumann's death in 1856, Brahms became the closest confidant and lifelong friend of the composer's widow, pianist and composer Clara Wieck Schumann. After a life of spectacular musical triumphs and failed loves (the composer was involved in several romantic entanglements but never wed), Brahms died of liver cancer on April 3, 1897.

In every genre in which he composed, Brahms produced works that have become staples of the repertory. His most ambitious work, the German Requiem (1863-1867), is the composer's singular reinterpretation of an age-old form. The four symphonies -- lushly scored, grand in scope, and deeply expressive -- are cornerstones of the symphonic literature. Brahms' concertos are, similarly, in a monumental, quasi-symphonic vein: the two piano concertos (1856-1859 and 1881) and the Violin Concerto (1878) call for soloists with both considerable technical skill and stamina. His chamber music is among the most sophisticated and exquisitely crafted of the Romantic era; for but a single example, his works that incorporate the clarinet (e.g., the Trio in A minor, Op. 114 and the two Sonatas, Op. 120), an instrument largely overlooked by his contemporaries, remain unsurpassed. Though the piano sonata never held for Brahms the same appeal it had for Beethoven (Brahms wrote three to Beethoven's 32), he produced a voluminous body of music for the piano. He showed a particular affinity for variations -- notably, on themes of Schumann (1854), Handel (1861), and Paganini (1862-1863) -- and likewise produced a passel of national dances and character pieces such as ballades, intermezzi, and rhapsodies. Collectively, these constitute one of the essential bodies of work in the realm of nineteenth century keyboard music. Read less

Featured Johannes Brahms CDs & DVDs:

Brahms: Haydn Variations, Etc / Argerich, Rabinovitch
Brahms: Haydn Variations, Etc / Argerich, Rabinovitch
Release Date: 11/01/1994   Label: Teldec  
Catalog: 92257   Number of Discs: 1
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Brahms: Piano Concerto No 1, 4 Ballades / Buchbinder
Brahms: Piano Concerto No 1, 4 Ballades / Buchbinder
Release Date: 06/23/2003   Label: Apex  
Catalog: 4603712   Number of Discs: 1
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Mozart, Brahms: Clarinet Quintets / Bso Chamber Players
Mozart, Brahms: Clarinet Quintets / Bso Chamber Players
Release Date: 12/26/2007   Label: Philips  
Catalog: 442149   Number of Discs: 1
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Music By Three - Brahms, Dubois, Holbrooke / Frautschi, Ruske, Prutsman
Music By Three - Brahms, Dubois, Holbrooke / Frautschi, Ruske, Prutsman
Release Date: 11/09/2010   Label: Albany Records  
Catalog: 1228   Number of Discs: 1
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Berg, Brahms: Violin Concertos / Capucon, Harding, Wiener Philharmoniker
Berg, Brahms: Violin Concertos / Capucon, Harding, Wiener Philharmoniker
Release Date: 10/09/2012   Label: Virgin Classics  
Catalog: 02653   Number of Discs: 1
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Work: Tragic Overture, Op. 81

Browse 76-100 of 132 Available Recordings
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  • 76.
    Brahms: Symphony No 1, Overtures / Alsop, London PO
    Brahms: Symphony No 1, Overtures / Alsop, London PO
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8557428 Release Date: 02/22/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Conductor:  Marin Alsop
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 77.
    Brahms: Symphony No 1, Etc / Sawallisch
    Brahms: Symphony No 1, Etc / Sawallisch
    Label: Emi Classics Encore   Catalog: 86092 Release Date: 01/11/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Conductor:  Wolfgang Sawallisch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 78.
    Brahms: Symphony No 4, Haydn Variations, Etc / Giulini
    Brahms: Symphony No 4, Haydn Variations, Etc / Giulini
    Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century   Catalog: 62883 Release Date: 09/07/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Conductor:  Carlo Maria Giulini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra,  Philharmonia Orchestra
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  • 79.
    Jascha Horenstein - Broadcast Performances From Paris
    Jascha Horenstein - Broadcast Performances From Paris
    Label: Music & Arts Programs Of America   Catalog: 1146 Release Date: 08/31/2004   Number of Discs: 9
    Composer:  Richard Strauss,  Sergei Prokofiev,  Samuel Barber,  Johannes Brahms  ... 
    Performer:  Lola Bobesco,  Marian Anderson,  Pilar Lorengar,  Marga Höffgen  ... 
    Conductor:  Jascha Horenstein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
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  • 80.
    Great Conductors Of The 20th Century / Fritz Reiner
    Great Conductors Of The 20th Century / Fritz Reiner
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 62866 Release Date: 07/13/2004   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Manuel de Falla,  Maurice Ravel,  Richard Strauss  ... 
    Performer:  Carol Brice,  Emil Gilels
    Conductor:  Fritz Reiner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra,  Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,  NBC Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 81.
    Guido Cantelli - The Nbc Broadcast Concerts
    Guido Cantelli - The Nbc Broadcast Concerts
    Label: Testament   Catalog: 1336 Release Date: 07/13/2004   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Don Gillis,  Claude Debussy,  Antonio Vivaldi,  Igor Stravinsky  ... 
    Performer:  Max Hollander,  Mischa Mishakov,  Ben Grauer,  Frank Miller  ... 
    Conductor:  Guido Cantelli
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  NBC Symphony Orchestra
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  • 82.
    Bernstein Collectors Edition - Brahms: Symphonies, Etc
    Bernstein Collectors Edition - Brahms: Symphonies, Etc
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 000218702 Release Date: 05/11/2004   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Gidon Kremer,  Mischa Maisky,  Gerhart Hetzel
    Conductor:  Leonard Bernstein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 83.
    Brahms: Symphony No 2, Tragic Overture / Vonk, Et Al
    Brahms: Symphony No 2, Tragic Overture / Vonk, Et Al
    Label: Pentatone   Catalog: 5186042 Release Date: 04/27/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Conductor:  Hans Vonk
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Netherlands Radio Symphony
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  • 84.
    Brahms: Symphony No 1 / Bernard Haitink, London So
    Brahms: Symphony No 1 / Bernard Haitink, London So
    Label: Lso Live   Catalog: 45 Release Date: 04/13/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Conductor:  Bernard Haitink
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra
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  • 85.
    Brahms: Symphonies No 1-4... / Otto Klemperer
    Brahms: Symphonies No 1-4... / Otto Klemperer
    Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century   Catalog: 62760 Release Date: 04/06/2004   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Christa Ludwig
    Conductor:  Otto Klemperer
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Philharmonia Chorus
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  • 86.
    Brahms: Symphony No 2, Tragic Overture / Barenboim
    Brahms: Symphony No 2, Tragic Overture / Barenboim
    Label: Elatus   Catalog: 4606622 Release Date: 01/26/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Conductor:  Daniel Barenboim
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra
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  • 87.
    Great Conductors Of The 20th Century - Rudolf Kempe
    Great Conductors Of The 20th Century - Rudolf Kempe
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 75950 Release Date: 08/05/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.,  Maurice Ravel,  Hugo Wolf,  Anton Bruckner  ... 
    Conductor:  Rudolf Kempe
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,  Munich Philharmonic Choir,  Munich Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
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  • 88.
    Classics - Brahms: Piano Concerto No 1 / Gutiérrez, Previn
    Classics - Brahms: Piano Concerto No 1 / Gutiérrez, Previn
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80252 Release Date: 07/22/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Horacio Gutierrez
    Conductor:  André Previn
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 89.
    Brahms: Four Hand Piano Music Vol 8 / Matthies, C. Köhn
    Brahms: Four Hand Piano Music Vol 8 / Matthies, C. Köhn
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8554117 Release Date: 05/20/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Silke-Thora Matthies,  Christian Köhn
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  • 90.
    Ancerl Gold Edition 15 - Brahms
    Ancerl Gold Edition 15 - Brahms
    Label: Supraphon   Catalog: 3675 Release Date: 04/22/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Ilona Then-Bergh
    Conductor:  Karel Ancerl
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 91.
    Great Conductors Of The 20th Century - Leopold Stokowski
    Great Conductors Of The 20th Century - Leopold Stokowski
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 75480 Release Date: 02/11/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Carl Nielsen,  Percy Aldridge Grainger,  Reinhold Gliere,  Richard Wagner  ... 
    Performer:  Percy Aldridge Grainger
    Conductor:  Leopold Stokowski
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Danish State Radio Orchestra,  Leopold Stokowski Orchestra,  Philadelphia Orchestra  ... 
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  • 92.
    Trio - Brahms: Complete Concertos, Overtures /Brendel, Et Al
    Trio - Brahms: Complete Concertos, Overtures /Brendel, Et Al
    Label: Philips   Catalog: 473267 Release Date: 01/14/2003   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Henryk Szeryng,  János Starker,  Alfred Brendel
    Conductor:  Bernard Haitink,  Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
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  • 93.
    Brahms: Tragic Overture, Piano Concerto No 1 / Zilberstein, Garben
    Brahms: Tragic Overture, Piano Concerto No 1 / Zilberstein, Garben
    Label: Hänssler Classic   Catalog: 93075 Release Date: 12/24/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Lilya Zilberstein,  Cord Garben
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  • 94.
    Brahms: 4 Symphonies, Haydn Variations / Böhm, Vienna Po
    Brahms: 4 Symphonies, Haydn Variations / Böhm, Vienna Po
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 471443 Release Date: 10/08/2002   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Christa Ludwig,  Gerhart Hetzel
    Conductor:  Karl Böhm
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,  Vienna Singverein
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  • 95.
    Bruckner: Symphony No 5; Et Al / Knappertsbusch, Munich Po
    Bruckner: Symphony No 5; Et Al / Knappertsbusch, Munich Po
    Label: Music & Arts Programs Of America   Catalog: 1105 Release Date: 09/24/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Anton Bruckner
    Conductor:  Hans Knappertsbusch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  South German Philharmonic Orchestra,  Munich Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 96.
    Brahms: Serenades Nos 1 & 2, Etc / Boult, Baker
    Brahms: Serenades Nos 1 & 2, Etc / Boult, Baker
    Label: Emi Classics Double Fforte   Catalog: 68655 Release Date: 09/10/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Dame Janet Baker
    Conductor:  Sir Adrian Boult
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  John Alldis Choir,  London Philharmonic Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra
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  • 97.
    Brahms: Symphony No 1, Tragic Overture / Masur, Nypo
    Brahms: Symphony No 1, Tragic Overture / Masur, Nypo
    Label: Apex   Catalog: 44351 Release Date: 07/16/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Conductor:  Kurt Masur
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
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  • 98.
    Trio - Brahms: Complete Symphonies / Riccardo Muti, Et Al
    Trio - Brahms: Complete Symphonies / Riccardo Muti, Et Al
    Label: Philips   Catalog: 470942 Release Date: 06/11/2002   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Conductor:  Riccardo Muti
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philadelphia Orchestra
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  • 99.
    Great Conductors Of The 20th Century - Fritz Busch
    Great Conductors Of The 20th Century - Fritz Busch
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 75103 Release Date: 06/04/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Carl Maria von Weber,  Richard Strauss,  Johannes Brahms,  Franz Joseph Haydn  ... 
    Performer:  Waldemar Wolsing,  Carl Bloch,  Leo Hansen,  Alberto Medici
    Conductor:  Fritz Busch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Danish State Radio Orchestra,  London Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 100.
    Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Brahms / Fritz Busch, Et Al
    Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Brahms / Fritz Busch, Et Al
    Label: Urania   Catalog: 159 Release Date: 11/21/2000   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Conductor:  Fritz Busch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra,  Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra,  New York Philharmonic
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