Frankfurter Museums-Gesellschaft e.V.

The beginning of Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 is abrupt and unwieldy. The opening theme is said to have been a disturbed reaction to Robert Schumann's confused leap into the Rhine. Brahms found it difficult to come to terms with this experience, as he did with the development of the concerto. It was initially conceived as a sonata for two pianos, then as a symphony, before finally culminating in a symphonic piano concerto. It contains an homage to Robert Schumann, as well as to Clara Schumann, hidden above all in the lyrical sections. The premiere in Hanover was reported as a "respectable success", the repeat performance in Leipzig's Gewandhaus as a "disaster". Today, we would not want to miss Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 - and can look forward to the interpretation by the young American Maxim Lando, who is making his debut in the museum concerts.

Just as Robert Schumann had heralded the young Johannes Brahms as "that master who would be called upon to express the highest expression of the time in an ideal way", Brahms later supported the young Antonín Dvorák and recommended him to his publisher Simrock. The two formed a lifelong friendship. Before their first meeting, Dvorák had already composed four symphonies, which are less well known than the five that followed. Nevertheless, the Prague premiere of the 4th Symphony was already a success. Today, it is considered an important step on Dvorák's path to becoming one of the great Romantic symphonists.

Performed by the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra with Maxim Lando at the piano under the direction of Cornelius Meister.

Photo: Sebastian Mare

28.9., 11 a.m. & 29.9., 8 p.m. (concert introduction with Ulrike Kienzle one hour before the start in the Great Hall)

Alte Oper, Großer Saal, Opernplatz 1, Frankfurt

2for1: price category 1 = 71 €, price category 2 = 62 € (tickets subject to availability)

Sept. 25-27, advance booking Alte Oper, Mon-Fri 10am-6.30pm & Sat 10am-2pm, tickets subject to availability