Brahms was inspired by Luigi Boccherini's six string sextets from 1776 to compose his own two sextets, finding the form more comfortable than the string quartet.
Composition History
Brahms's Second Symphony was primarily composed in the summer of 1877 during his first summer vacation in Pörtschach on Lake Wörth, a place that inspired many melodies in the work.
Composer Biography
Johannes Brahms, a composer, did not complete his first symphony until the age of 43, due to a fear of comparison with Beethoven's symphonies.
Critical Reception
The premiere of Brahms's Second Symphony was a great success, with the Viennese critic Eduard Hanslick calling it a work that "extends its warm sunshine to connoisseurs and laymen alike."
Interpretation
This recording by Volker Hartung and the Junge Philharmonie Köln aims to adhere to the original tempi of Brahms's works, as contemporary accounts suggest modern performances are often too slow.
Composer Biography
Brahms's love for Hungarian culture and music was inspired by his friends, particularly the Hungarian violinist Eduard Reményi, with whom he toured at age 17.
Performer Biography
Volker Hartung, the conductor on this album, studied viola at the Juilliard School of Music and the California Institute of the Arts, and conducting with Sergiu Celibidache.
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