The Three Intermezzi, Op.117 by Johannes Brahms were composed together with Fantasien Op.116 during his short stay at Bad Ischl, in Austria.
When Brahms sent this set of Intermezzi to Clara Schumann, she claimed, “in these pieces I at last feel musical life stir once again in my soul”. Perfused with melancholy and grief, these three Intermezzi were regarded as “three lullabies for my sorrows” by the composer.
I love these pieces, and I used the Opus 117 #2 as the introduction music for my radio program that I hosted some years ago.
Here is a master pianist, Radu Lupu, to play these Intermezzi for you:
