Brahms: Variationen über ein Thema von Joseph Haydn and extracts from the rehearsal

Featuring

Herbert Blomstedt
Friedrich Schloffer
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Johannes Brahms
Miscellaneous

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Compositional Technique

The Haydn Variations strictly adhere to the chorale's 25-bar structure in each variation, serving as the sole constant for a free variation technique.

Composer Biography

Brahms once confessed to conductor Hermann Levi that he would never write a symphony, feeling intimidated by the legacy of Beethoven.

Composition History

Brahms, at 40 years old, used the orchestral variation form as a testing ground to refine his orchestration and overcome his reluctance to compose a symphony.

Performer Biography

Herbert Blomstedt, the conductor, has had a career spanning over 70 years, earning respect for combining score accuracy and analytical precision with spiritual inspiration.

Composition History

Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn were inspired by a chorale he copied from a divertimento, which was mistakenly attributed to Haydn.

Recording & Production

This album includes a unique 'Conductors in Rehearsal' segment from BR-KLASSIK, offering a look into Herbert Blomstedt's rehearsal process with the orchestra.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Brahms focused on small, fragmentary motifs in his Haydn Variations, giving them unexpected significance rather than developing the main theme directly.