Only Brahms

The concert of the NFM of the Wrocław Philharmonic under the baton of Thierry Fischer is entirely devoted to the music of Johannes Brahms, whose one hundred and thirtieth anniversary of his death will be commemorated in 2027. The program included two works created almost simultaneously — the full-bodied Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 and Symphony No. 2 in D major. The soloist of the evening will be the American violinist Benjamin Beilman, considered by critics to be one of the most outstanding artists of his generation.

The Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 was composed in 1878 for the composer's friend, the outstanding violinist Joseph Joachim. The premiere took place a year later in Leipzig's Gewandhaus — Joachim performed as soloist, and the orchestra was conducted by Brahms himself. The piece received an enthusiastic reception from the audience, although the critics were not unanimous. One of them described the concert as written “against the violin”, Henryk Wieniawski considered it unworkable, and Pablo de Sarasate refused to play, claiming that he did not intend to stand idly on the stage during the Adagio, when the author entrusted the most beautiful melody to the oboe. History has verified these opinions. Today, Brahms's Violin Concerto is one of the most important works in the repertoire dedicated to this instrument, valued not so much for its virtuoso effect as for its symphonic momentum, richness of texture and balance between solo part and orchestra. In the free part, attention is particularly drawn to the lyrical solo of the oboe, which for a moment becomes the main protagonist of the narrative, while the finale — inspired by Hungarian music — impresses with energy, fantasy and vibrancy.

Symphony No. 2 in D major, in turn, was composed in the summer of 1877 during Brahms's stay in picturesque Carinthia. The composer completed it in just a few months, which contrasts sharply with the many years of work on the First Symphony. After the premiere, commentators quickly began to compare the new work to Beethoven's Pastoral. Indeed, the Second is one of the most serene works of Brahms, although under this impression there are also moments of reverie and anxiety. The third part of the work has a special charm - a subtle stylization of the minuet, one of the most popular dances of the era of classicism. The finale brings music full of brilliance and energy. The growing tension leads to a triumphant climax, in which brass instruments sound particularly impressive. Thanks to its combination of lyricism and optimistic expression, Symphony No. 2 remains one of Brahms's most eagerly performed compositions.