ConcertPulse
3. Orchesterkonzert
Rosengarten Mannheim, Musensaal Mannheimer Philharmoniker (Mannheim)
This evening is dedicated to two outstanding Romantic composers: Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann. When the young Brahms introduced himself to the Schumanns in Düsseldorf, it marked the beginning of an intense friendship. Schumann, impressed by Brahms' talent, published an article praising him as a "strong warrior" whose piano sonatas were already "veiled symphonies." Brahms, like Schumann, initially composed exclusively for piano before exploring other genres. Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor dissolved the typical classical concerto's solo-ensemble opposition, interweaving piano and orchestra. Brahms' Symphony No. 2, a cheerful counterpart to his weighty first, features soft horns, elegant strings, and a pastoral character, incorporating folk song elements characteristic of German Romanticism. The lyrical side theme of the first movement even quotes his lullaby, "Guten Abend, Gute Nacht."
