Unprecedented for a requiem, Brahms's work includes no direct reference to Christ and sets biblical excerpts from various books instead of the traditional Requiem Mass text.
Performer Biography
Elizabeth Watts, the soprano on this album, was a chorister at Norwich Cathedral and won the 2006 Kathleen Ferrier Prize.
Interpretation
Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin's performance of A German Requiem was notable for its slow tempi, which created a resolute sense of stillness and calm.
Performer Biography
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the conductor on this album, has been Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra since 2008/2009.
Compositional Technique
Brahms's A German Requiem relies on two main musical motifs, including a Bach chorale theme, to create a sense of assurance and contentment.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Brahms's A German Requiem is a hopeful work, offering spiritual comfort rather than the threat of impending judgment, and captures a cultural view of Germany.
Composition History
Brahms began sketching A German Requiem after the death of his artistic mentor Robert Schumann and his beloved mother.
