Johannes Brahms

Start Over
Composition Types
Most Popular Works
See all

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
On sale!
CD: $11.99
In Stock
BUY 
On sale!   $16.99   CD:  $11.99 Add to Cart

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
On sale!
CD: $5.99
In Stock
BUY 
On sale!   $7.99   CD:  $5.99 Add to Cart

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
On sale!
ArkivCD $12.99
Low Stock
BUY 
On sale!   $17.98   ArkivCD:  $12.99 Add to Cart

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
On sale!
CD: $11.99
In Stock
BUY 
On sale!   $19.98   CD:  $11.99 Add to Cart

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
On sale!
CD: $14.99
In Stock
MP3 Available
BUY 
On sale!   $16.98   CD:  $14.99 Add to Cart

MP3:  $9.99 Add to Cart

Work: Double Concerto, Op. 102

Browse 76-100 of 105 Available Recordings
1 2 3 4 5
  • 76.
    Oistrakh, Menuhin, Rostropovich - Bach, Mozart, Brahms: Concertos
    Oistrakh, Menuhin, Rostropovich - Bach, Mozart, Brahms: Concertos
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 90450 Release Date: 02/10/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Igor Oistrakh,  David Oistrakh,  Yehudi Menuhin,  Mstislav Rostropovich
    Conductor:  Yehudi Menuhin,  Pierre Capdevielle,  Kiril Kondrashin
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra,  ORTF National Orchestra
    On sale! $24.97
    DVD: $19.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $24.97   DVD:  $19.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 77.
    Brahms: Symphony No 2, Double Concerto / Haitink, London So
    Brahms: Symphony No 2, Double Concerto / Haitink, London So
    Label: Lso Live   Catalog: 43 Release Date: 01/13/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Timothy Hugh,  Gordan Nikolic
    Conductor:  Bernard Haitink
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra
    Recommendation
    CD: $12.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $12.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 78.
    Expanded Edition - Brahms / Stern, Ma , Et Al
    Expanded Edition - Brahms / Stern, Ma , Et Al
    Label: Sony Classical Masterworks   Catalog: 90405 Release Date: 09/30/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Isaac Stern,  Yo-Yo Ma,  Emanuel Ax,  Jaime Laredo
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $11.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $11.99 Add to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 79.
    Dvorák, Brahms / P. Tortelier, Menuhin, Previn, Berglund
    Dvorák, Brahms / P. Tortelier, Menuhin, Previn, Berglund
    Label: Emi Classics Encore   Catalog: 75865 Release Date: 06/10/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Antonín Dvorák
    Performer:  Paul Tortelier,  Yehudi Menuhin
    Conductor:  Paavo Berglund,  André Previn
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $6.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $6.99 Add to Cart

    MP3:  $5.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 80.
    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
    On sale! $33.98
    ArkivCD $29.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $33.98   ArkivCD:  $29.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 81.
    Jascha Heifetz - Brahms: Concertos / Koussevitsky, Ormandy
    Jascha Heifetz - Brahms: Concertos / Koussevitsky, Ormandy
    Label: Idi   Catalog: 6382 Release Date: 10/29/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Jascha Heifetz,  Emanuel Feuermann
    Conductor:  Eugene Ormandy,  Serge Koussevitzky
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philadelphia Orchestra,  Boston Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $15.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $15.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 82.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Double Concerto / Shaham, Et Al
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Double Concerto / Shaham, Et Al
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 469529 Release Date: 10/08/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Gil Shaham,  Jian Wang
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
    Recommendation
    CD: $15.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $15.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 83.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Etc / Stern, Rose, Ormandy, Et Al
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Etc / Stern, Rose, Ormandy, Et Al
    Label: Sony Classical Essential Classics   Catalog: 89835 Release Date: 01/29/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Isaac Stern,  Leonard Rose
    Conductor:  Eugene Ormandy
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philadelphia Orchestra
    CD: $6.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $6.99 Add to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 84.
    Brahms: Double Concerto, Etc / Adolph & Herman Busch, Et Al
    Brahms: Double Concerto, Etc / Adolph & Herman Busch, Et Al
    Label: Music & Arts Programs Of America   Catalog: 1083 Release Date: 05/22/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer:  Hermann Busch,  Adolf Busch,  Bruno Straumann,  Hugo Gottesmann  ... 
    Conductor:  Paul Kletzki
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  French National Radio Orchestra,  Busch String Quartet
    CD: $17.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $17.99 Add to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 85.
    Brahms: Double Concerto / Walter, Francescatti, Fournier
    Brahms: Double Concerto / Walter, Francescatti, Fournier
    Label: Cbs Masterworks   Catalog: 42024 Release Date: 05/20/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Robert Schumann
    Performer:  Zino Francescatti,  Pierre Fournier,  Eugene Istomin
    Conductor:  Bruno Walter
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Columbia Symphony Orchestra
    Recommendation
    ArkivCD $16.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    ArkivCD:  $16.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 86.
    References - Brahms: Violin Concerto, Etc / Menuhin, Et Al
    References - Brahms: Violin Concerto, Etc / Menuhin, Et Al
    Label: Emi Classics Special Import   Catalog: 63496 Release Date: 01/09/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Yehudi Menuhin,  Edgar Schann,  Emanuel Brabec,  Willi Boskovsky
    Conductor:  Wilhelm Furtwängler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lucerne Festival Orchestra,  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
    CD not available
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    MP3:  $7.99 Add to Cart

  • 87.
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Double Concerto
    Brahms: Violin Concerto, Double Concerto
    Label: Eloquence   Catalog: 468172 Release Date: 09/12/2000   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Henryk Szeryng,  János Starker
    Conductor:  Bernard Haitink
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
    Import CD
    $14.99
    Low Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $14.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 88.
    Brahms, Mendelssohn: Double Concertos / Starker, Et Al
    Brahms, Mendelssohn: Double Concertos / Starker, Et Al
    Label: Eloquence   Catalog: 4643692 Release Date: 02/28/2000   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer:  Henryk Szeryng,  János Starker,  Jaap Van Zweden,  Ronald Brautigam
    Conductor:  Bernard Haitink
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra,  Royal Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
    CD: $12.99
    Low Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $12.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 89.
    Double Concertos - Bach, Mozart, Brahms / Heifetz, Et Al
    Double Concertos - Bach, Mozart, Brahms / Heifetz, Et Al
    Label: Rca Victor Living Stereo   Catalog: 63531 Release Date: 01/11/2000   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Jascha Heifetz,  Erick Friedman,  Thornton Lofthouse,  William Primrose  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Malcolm Sargent,  Izler Solomon,  Alfred Wallenstein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New Symphony Orchestra,  RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $8.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $8.99 Add to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 90.
    Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms / Richter, Oistrakh, Rostropovich
    Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms / Richter, Oistrakh, Rostropovich
    Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century   Catalog: 66954 Release Date: 03/09/1999   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter,  Mstislav Rostropovich,  David Oistrakh
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan,  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,  Cleveland Orchestra
    Recommendation
    CD: $12.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $12.99 Add to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 91.
    Wilhelm Furtwängler At The Lucerne Festival 1947-53
    Wilhelm Furtwängler At The Lucerne Festival 1947-53
    Label: Music & Arts Programs Of America   Catalog: 1018 Release Date: 04/21/1998   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Richard Wagner,  Robert Schumann
    Performer:  Enrico Mainardi,  Wolfgang Schneiderhan,  Yehudi Menuhin,  Adrian Aeschbacher
    Conductor:  Wilhelm Furtwängler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lucerne Festival Orchestra
    CD not available
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    MP3:  $39.99 Add to Cart

  • 92.
    Brahms: Doppelkonzert, Horntrio / Sawallisch, Zimmermann
    Brahms: Doppelkonzert, Horntrio / Sawallisch, Zimmermann
    Label: Emi Classics Special Import   Catalog: 56385 Release Date: 10/14/1997   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Heinrich Schiff,  Frank Peter Zimmermann,  Marie-Luise Neunecker,  Wolfgang Sawallisch
    Conductor:  Wolfgang Sawallisch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra
    Recommendation
    ArkivCD $16.99
    Special Order
    BUY 
    ArkivCD:  $16.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 93.
    Brahms: Double Concerto; Mendelssohn / Perlman, Ma, Et Al
    Brahms: Double Concerto; Mendelssohn / Perlman, Ma, Et Al
    Label: Teldec   Catalog: 15870 Release Date: 05/27/1997   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer:  Itzhak Perlman,  Yo-Yo Ma
    Conductor:  Daniel Barenboim
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra
    On sale! $16.99
    CD: $11.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $16.99   CD:  $11.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 94.
    Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms Et Al / Oistrakh, Oborin
    Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms Et Al / Oistrakh, Oborin
    Label: Emi Classics Double Fforte   Catalog: 69331 Release Date: 08/13/1996   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Sergei Prokofiev,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Pierre Fournier,  David Oistrakh,  Lev Oborin,  Sviatoslav Knushevitzky
    Conductor:  Alceo Galliera,  David Oistrakh,  Sir Malcolm Sargent
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra
    CD not available
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    MP3:  $12.99 Add to Cart

  • 95.
    Kagan Edition Vol 15 - Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms
    Kagan Edition Vol 15 - Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms
    Label: Live Classics   Catalog: 175 Release Date: 05/21/1996   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Franz Schubert
    Performer:  Oleg Kagan
    Conductor:  Arnold Katz,  Kurt Masur
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Novosibirsk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra,  Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
    CD: $19.99
    Low Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $19.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 96.
    Mozart, Brahms, Schubert / Karl Böhm, Vienna Po
    Mozart, Brahms, Schubert / Karl Böhm, Vienna Po
    Label: Orfeo D'or   Catalog: 359941 Release Date: 11/17/1995   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Franz Schubert,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Enrico Mainardi,  Wolfgang Schneiderhan
    Conductor:  Karl Böhm
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
    CD: $19.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $19.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 97.
    Bruno Walter Edition - Brahms: Double Concerto; Beethoven
    Bruno Walter Edition - Brahms: Double Concerto; Beethoven
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 64479 Release Date: 10/31/1995   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Zino Francescatti,  Pierre Fournier,  Walter Hendl,  Leonard Rose  ... 
    Conductor:  Bruno Walter
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Columbia Symphony Orchestra,  New York Philharmonic
    Recommendation
    ArkivCD $16.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    ArkivCD:  $16.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 98.
    Brahms: Double Concerto; Schumann: Cello Concerto / Kliegel
    Brahms: Double Concerto; Schumann: Cello Concerto / Kliegel
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8550938 Release Date: 06/27/1995   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Robert Schumann
    Performer:  Maria Kliegel,  Ilya Kaler
    Conductor:  Andrew Constantine
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    CD: $9.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $9.99 Add to Cart

    MP3:  $7.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 99.
    Art Of Classics - Brahms: Masterpieces Vol 1
    Art Of Classics - Brahms: Masterpieces Vol 1
    Label: Intercord Klassische Diskothek   Catalog: 25924 Release Date: 05/23/1995   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Mark Kaplan,  David Geringas,  Dieter Goldmann
    Conductor:  Michael Gielen,  Hans Swarowsky,  Alfred Scholz
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra,  South German Philharmonic Orchestra,  Munich Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $16.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $16.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

  • 100.
    Isaac Stern - A Life In Music - Beethoven, Brahms: Concertos
    Isaac Stern - A Life In Music - Beethoven, Brahms: Concertos
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 66941 Release Date: 05/16/1995   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Leonard Rose,  Isaac Stern,  Eugene Istomin
    Conductor:  Eugene Ormandy,  Zubin Mehta,  Daniel Barenboim
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philadelphia Orchestra,  New York Philharmonic
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add to Cart

    WISH LIST

1 2 3 4 5