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:

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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Brahms: Cello Sonatas / Tanja Tetzlaff, Gunilla Sussmann
Brahms: Cello Sonatas / Tanja Tetzlaff, Gunilla Sussmann
Release Date: 02/12/2013   Label: Cavi Music  
Catalog: 8553270   Number of Discs: 1
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Bach, Brahms, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos / David Oistrakh
Bach, Brahms, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos / David Oistrakh
Release Date: 01/23/1996   Label: Dg The Originals  
Catalog: 447427   Number of Discs: 2
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Brahms: Piano Concertos No 1 & 2, Etc / Fleisher
Brahms: Piano Concertos No 1 & 2, Etc / Fleisher
Release Date: 10/14/1997   Label: Sony Classical Masterworks  
Catalog: 63225   Number of Discs: 2
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Work: Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 77

Browse 26-50 of 229 Available Recordings
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  • 26.
    Icon: William Steinberg
    Icon: William Steinberg
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 26486 Release Date: 10/11/2011   Number of Discs: 20
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Johannes Brahms,  Franz Joseph Haydn,  Franz Schubert  ... 
    Performer:  Nathan Milstein,  Rudolf Firkusny
    Conductor:  William Steinberg
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 27.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Hungarian Dances / Baiba Skride
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Hungarian Dances / Baiba Skride
    Label: Orfeo   Catalog: 829112 Release Date: 07/26/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Baiba Skride,  Lauma Skride
    Conductor:  Sakari Oramo
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
    CD: $22.49
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  • 28.
    Violin Concertos - Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Bruch
    Violin Concertos - Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Bruch
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94096 Release Date: 06/28/2011   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Felix Mendelssohn  ... 
    Performer:  Dmitri Sitkovetsky,  Jose-Luis Garcia,  Neil Black,  Giuliano Carmignola  ... 
    Conductor:  Dmitri Sitkovetsky,  Carlo de Martini,  Gennadi Rozhdestvensky,  Kiril Kondrashin  ... 
    CD: $29.99
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  • 29.
    The Greatest Romantic Violin Concertos / Vaclav Hudecek
    The Greatest Romantic Violin Concertos / Vaclav Hudecek
    Label: Supraphon Md   Catalog: 4055 Release Date: 05/24/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Jean Sibelius,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Václav Hudecek
    Conductor:  Jiri Belohlávek
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Prague Symphony Orchestra,  Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
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  • 30.
    Wilhelm Furtwangler - The Great EMI Recordings
    Wilhelm Furtwangler - The Great EMI Recordings
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 07878 Release Date: 05/17/2011   Number of Discs: 21
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Béla Bartók,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Johannes Brahms  ... 
    Performer:  Elisabeth Schwarzkopf,  Elisabeth Höngen,  Hans Hopf,  Otto Edelmann  ... 
    Conductor:  Wilhelm Furtwängler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,  Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra,  Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 31.
    Brahms, Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos / Haitink, Szeryng, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
    Brahms, Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos / Haitink, Szeryng, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
    Label: Newton Classics   Catalog: 8802053 Release Date: 04/26/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer:  Henryk Szeryng
    Conductor:  Bernard Haitink
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
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  • 32.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto; Dvorak: Symphony No 9 / Shaham, Abbado [blu-ray]
    Brahms: Violin Concerto; Dvorak: Symphony No 9 / Shaham, Abbado [blu-ray]
    Label: Euroarts   Catalog: 2051954 Release Date: 04/26/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Antonín Dvorák,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer:  Gil Shaham
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 33.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto; Schumann: Symphony No 4 / Steinbacher, Luisi
    Brahms: Violin Concerto; Schumann: Symphony No 4 / Steinbacher, Luisi
    Label: Orfeo   Catalog: 752111 Release Date: 03/29/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Robert Schumann
    Performer:  Arabella Steinbacher
    Conductor:  Fabio Luisi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Symphony Orchestra
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  • 34.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, String Sextet No 2 / Faust, Harding, Mahler Chamber Orchestra
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, String Sextet No 2 / Faust, Harding, Mahler Chamber Orchestra
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 902075 Release Date: 03/08/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Isabelle Faust,  Stefan Fehlandt,  Julia Maria Kretz,  Pauline Sachse  ... 
    Conductor:  Daniel Harding
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Mahler Chamber Orchestra
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  • 35.
    Bach, Mozart, Brahms: Violin Concertos / David Oistrakh
    Bach, Mozart, Brahms: Violin Concertos / David Oistrakh
    Label: Ica Classics   Catalog: 5012 Release Date: 02/22/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Johannes Brahms,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  David Oistrakh
    Conductor:  Sir Colin Davis,  Kiril Kondrashin,  Yehudi Menuhin
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  English Chamber Orchestra,  Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 36.
    Georg Kulenkampff: Concerto Recordings Vol. 2
    Georg Kulenkampff: Concerto Recordings Vol. 2
    Label: Opus Kura   Catalog: 2091 Release Date: 01/11/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Robert Schumann,  Johannes Brahms,  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Georg Kulenkampff
    Conductor:  Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt,  Arthur Rother
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  • 37.
    Zubin Mehta & The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra - Live Recordings 1963-2006 [12-CD Set]
    Zubin Mehta & The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra - Live Recordings 1963-2006 [12-CD Set]
    Label: Helicon   Catalog: 9625 Release Date: 12/07/2010   Number of Discs: 12
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Gioachino Rossini,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  Radu Lupu,  Arie Vardi,  Yefim Bronfman,  Alicia De Larrocha  ... 
    Conductor:  Zubin Mehta
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Israel Philharmonic Orchestra,  Prague Philharmonic Choir,  Scottish National Chorus  ... 
    On sale! $99.98
    CD: $72.99
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  • 38.
    Discovering Masterpieces of Classical Music [5-DVD box set]
    Discovering Masterpieces of Classical Music [5-DVD box set]
    Label: Euroarts   Catalog: 2058228 Release Date: 10/26/2010   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Robert Schumann,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Richard Strauss  ... 
    Performer:  Martha Argerich,  Frank-Michael Erben,  Gil Shaham
    Conductor:  Riccardo Chailly,  Kurt Masur,  Hartmut Haenchen,  Giuseppe Sinopoli  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra,  C.P.E. Bach Chamber Orchestra,  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
    DVD: $78.99
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  • 39.
    Thomas Zehetmair: The Teldec Recordings
    Thomas Zehetmair: The Teldec Recordings
    Label: Teldec   Catalog: 81031 Release Date: 10/26/2010   Number of Discs: 15
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Michael Haydn,  Franz Joseph Haydn  ... 
    Performer:  Thomas Zehetmair,  Tabea Zimmermann,  Pierre-Laurent Aimard,  Clemens Hagen  ... 
    Conductor:  Thomas Zehetmair,  Nikolaus Harnoncourt,  Christoph Eschenbach,  Christoph von Dohnányi  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra,  Cleveland Orchestra,  German Chamber Philharmonic  ... 
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    CD: $69.99
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  • 40.
    Brahms: Concertos, Symphonies / Haitink, Arrau, Szeryng, Starker [7-CD Collector's Edition]
    Brahms: Concertos, Symphonies / Haitink, Arrau, Szeryng, Starker [7-CD Collector's Edition]
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001479902 Release Date: 10/19/2010   Number of Discs: 7
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Claudio Arrau,  Henryk Szeryng,  János Starker
    Conductor:  Bernard Haitink
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
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  • 41.
    Brahms, Dvorak: Violin Concertos / Perlman, Giulini, Barenboim
    Brahms, Dvorak: Violin Concertos / Perlman, Giulini, Barenboim
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 31770 Release Date: 10/12/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák,  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Itzhak Perlman
    Conductor:  Daniel Barenboim,  Carlo Maria Giulini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra,  Chicago Symphony Orchestra
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  • 42.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto; Dvorak: Violin Concerto
    Brahms: Violin Concerto; Dvorak: Violin Concerto
    Label: Regis   Catalog: 1349 Release Date: 09/28/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Antonín Dvorák
    Performer:  David Oistrakh
    Conductor:  Kiril Kondrashin
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  • 43.
    Le Violon En Fete!
    Le Violon En Fete!
    Label: Tahra   Catalog: 692 Release Date: 05/11/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Jean Sibelius
    Performer:  Nathan Milstein,  Bronislaw Gimpel
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan,  Eugen Jochum
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  • 44.
    Brahms: Piano Concerto No 3 (After Violin Concerto) / Lazic, Spano, Atlanta Symphony
    Brahms: Piano Concerto No 3 (After Violin Concerto) / Lazic, Spano, Atlanta Symphony
    Label: Channel Classics   Catalog: 29410 Release Date: 03/09/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Dejan Lazic
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 45.
    In Memoriam Ginette Neveu
    In Memoriam Ginette Neveu
    Label: Tahra   Catalog: 684 Release Date: 03/09/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jean Sibelius,  Ernest Chausson,  Johannes Brahms,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  Ginette Neveu
    Conductor:  Walter Susskind,  Charles Munch,  Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt,  Hans Rosbaud
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  • 46.
    Discovering Masterpieces - Brahms: Violin Concerto / Shaham
    Discovering Masterpieces - Brahms: Violin Concerto / Shaham
    Label: Euroarts   Catalog: 2056078 Release Date: 02/23/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Gil Shaham
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 47.
    Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms: Concertos, Romance / David Oistrakh
    Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms: Concertos, Romance / David Oistrakh
    Label: Supraphon   Catalog: 4015 Release Date: 02/23/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  David Oistrakh
    Conductor:  Karel Ancerl,  Antonio Pedrotti
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 48.
    Bernstein Edition - Brahms: Violin Concerto, Double Concerto
    Bernstein Edition - Brahms: Violin Concerto, Double Concerto
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 431031 Release Date: 01/28/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Gidon Kremer,  Mischa Maisky
    Conductor:  Leonard Bernstein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 49.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Symphony No 4 / Menuhin, Giulini
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Symphony No 4 / Menuhin, Giulini
    Label: Emi Seraphim   Catalog: 68526 Release Date: 01/28/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Yehudi Menuhin
    Conductor:  Rudolf Kempe,  Rafael Kubelik,  Carlo Maria Giulini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  New Philharmonia Orchestra  ... 
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  • 50.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto; Dvorak: Symphony No 9 / Shaham, Abbado
    Brahms: Violin Concerto; Dvorak: Symphony No 9 / Shaham, Abbado
    Label: Euroarts   Catalog: 2051958 Release Date: 01/26/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Antonín Dvorák,  Johannes Brahms,  Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer:  Gil Shaham
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
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