Brahms:
“Ein Deutsches Requiem”, Op. 45
Johannes Brahms wrote the Requiem in memory of his mother. Brahms’ contemporaries, including his close friend, Clara Schumann, were moved by the score and were enthusiastic about it – and it has been a favorite with the general public ever since.
Although Brahms selected Biblical texts for this composition, the piece is not in the standard church-liturgical tradition. It was Brahms’ personal response to “those who mourn”! The central idea of this masterpiece is the reality of human existence.
The ever critical Viennese public found something to complain about in this masterpiece, as well. It turns out that the word “Jesus” does not appear in the text, so the critics used that fact to complain. Brahms simply replied that the piece was “in honor of my Mother”.
Roger Norrington draws us close to the composer’s intentions with this fine interpretation. The work is performed by Christina Landshamer (soprano), and Florian Boesch (basso), with the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart.
Here is “Ein deutsches Requiem”, Op. 45: VII. ‘Selig sind die Toten’ (Blessed are the dead), conducted by Roger Norrington:
And here is the entire work, as performed by Herbert von Karajan, with the Wiener Philharmoniker :
https://youtu.be/LydPLNdob1c
Tags: Johannes Brahms, Ein Deutches Requiem, Roger Norrington, Christina Landshamer, Florian Boesch, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart
