The pianists Silke-Thora Matthies and Christian Köhn, who have individual solo careers, formed a piano duo in 1986 and have won international prizes.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Brahms, alongside violinist Joseph Joachim, championed "pure music" untrammelled by extra-musical associations, in opposition to the "Music of the Future" promoted by Wagner and Liszt.
Composer Biography
Brahms became a firm friend and supporter of Clara Schumann, the gifted pianist and wife of Robert Schumann, after Robert's mental health deteriorated, remaining so until her death in 1896.
Recording & Production
This album features the Piano Quartet No. 2 arranged for piano duet (one piano, four hands) and five Waltzes arranged for piano duo (two pianos).
Composer Biography
Brahms met the Hungarian violinist Reményi in 1851, who introduced him to Hungarian dance music that later influenced his compositions.
Composition History
Robert Schumann, a prominent composer and editor of the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, declared Brahms the long-awaited successor to Beethoven after hearing his music in 1853.
Composer Biography
Johannes Brahms, born in Hamburg in 1833, showed a natural aptitude for music from a young age, with talk of him touring as a prodigy by age eleven.
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