Brahms: Liederreihe, Op. 32, 4 Ernste Gesänge & ausgewählte Lieder

Featuring

Martin Hensel
Hedayet Djeddikar
Johannes Brahms

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Recording & Production

This album was recorded in co-production with Schweizer Radio SRF2 Kultur at Radiostudio Zürich across several dates in 2011 and 2012.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Johannes Brahms was consistently concerned with the biblical themes of Faith, Love, and Hope throughout his songwriting career, from his earliest to his final Lieder.

Composition History

Brahms's Opus 32, a Lied cycle, was published in 1865 and features texts by August von Platen and Georg Friedrich Daumer, poets known for their pessimistic outlook.

Composition History

Brahms completed his Vier ernste Gesänge (Four Serious Songs), Opus 121, in May 1896, announcing them to his publisher as 'a few little songs' with characteristic understatement.

Performer Biography

Pianist Hedayet Jonas Djeddikar has a particular interest in performing rarely heard repertoire within the German Lieder genre.

Compositional Technique

In the final of the Vier ernste Gesänge, Brahms includes a quotation from the main motif of his earlier song, "Wie bist du, meine Königin," as a passionate homage to Elisabeth von Herzogenberg.

Performer Biography

Baritone Martin Hensel's studies with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Julia Varady over several years were particularly influential on his artistic development.