Brahms & Marx

Tonkünstler Orchestra Lower Austria

"Just back from rehearsal. No. IV is immense, quite peculiar, entirely new, a bronze individuality. It breathes unprecedented energy from A to Z": This is how Hans von Bülow described it, the conductor of the premiere of Johannes Brahms' Fourth Symphony. Conductor Fabien Gabel juxtaposes this symphony with Joseph Marx's "Romantic Piano Concerto," composed in 1919 - and yes, its title is indeed programmatic. For this, Gabel has secured the participation of Marc-André Hamelin: a highly skilled, curious pianist who does not shy away from any challenge.

Marc-André Hamelin, piano
Fabien Gabel, conductor
Joseph Marx: "Romantic Piano Concerto" for piano and orchestra - Intermission -
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

Description
"Just back from rehearsal. No. IV is immense, quite peculiar, entirely new, a bronze individuality. It breathes unprecedented energy from A to Z": This is how Hans von Bülow described it, the conductor of the premiere of Johannes Brahms' Fourth Symphony, which took place in 1885 in Meiningen. And the young Richard Strauss, who was the second conductor there at the time, recognized: "His new symphony is indeed a colossal work, of a magnitude of conception and invention, genius in form treatment, period construction, of eminent vigor and strength, new and original."

Fabien Gabel contrasts the grand, austere E minor of this last Brahms symphony, which resonates even at the end, with the ever-blooming E major of Joseph Marx's "Romantic Piano Concerto," composed in 1919 - and yes, its title is indeed programmatic. For the revival of the thunderous splendor and delicate flattery, the refined, Strauss-like cantilenas and climaxes of this work, Gabel has secured the participation of Marc-André Hamelin: a highly skilled, curious pianist who does not shy away from any challenge.