Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 1 arr. Schoenberg | WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne & Cristian Măcelaru

Johannes Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 1, orchestrated by Arnold Schoenberg is also known as “Brahms Symphony No. 5.” The WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, with Cristian Măcelaru conducting, performed the work at the Bonn Opera House during the city’s 2022n Beethovenfest.
(00:00) Coming on stage
(00:17) I. Allegro
(14:16) II. Intermezzo: Allegro ma non troppo
(22:50) III. Andante con moto
(33:03) IV. Rondo alla zingarese
“The arrangement sounds so beautiful you don’t want to hear the original quartet at all,” commented conductor Otto Klemperer in 1937. He made the statement after premiering the orchestra version of Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25 in Los Angeles. Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897) composed his first piano quartet from 1856 to 1861. No other than the great Clara Schumann performed at the piano when the work was premiered in Hamburg in 1861. The piece was made famous above all by the stylized “Hungarian Dance” in the final movement. The other three movements are also based on catchy melodies and feature interesting structures.
Arnold Schoenberg (1874 - 1951) had a predilection for the music of Johannes Brahms. While many considered Brahms a backwards-looking classicist, Schoenberg viewed him as progressive. He emphasized that Brahms’ composing technique of the “developing variation” paved the way for modern music. Schoenberg’s evaluation provoked all of those who took Brahms for a traditionalist. In 1937, Schoenberg arranged the Piano Quartet in G minor for orchestra. Why he chose precisely this quartet he explained laconically with the words: “1. I like the piece; 2. It’s rarely played; 3. It is always played badly, because the better the pianist is, the louder they play, so you hear nothing of the strings. I wanted to hear all of it for once, and I have achieved that.” Schoenberg proudly named the orchestral arrangement of Piano Quartet No. 1 Brahms’ “Fifth Symphony,” placing his arrangement alongside the four Brahms had composed without further ado.
The WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne is one of Germany's top orchestras. It has a distinguished regional, national and international reputation. Performances range from concert series at the Kölner Philharmonie to partnerships with major venues and festivals. In recent years, the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne took several tours of Asia and Europe. The ensemble has been under the direction of Cristian Măcelaru since fall of 2019. It has often been recognized for its dedication to new music.
The Beethovenfest Bonn is one of Germany's oldest and most significant music festivals. Founded in 1845 by Franz Liszt in the town where Beethoven was born, it is now an internationally-recognized highlight on the cultural circuit, with around 80 events held in Bonn and the region each year in August and September.
© Deutsche Welle 2022
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[@MegaVicar]

Bravo! What a fine performance of a piece both odd and wonderful. 😀

[@Dodecatone]

This might be the best I've ever heard this done. The musicians are clearly enjoying themselves and leaning in to the insanity of the orchestration, while at the same time never losing the tune and the chamber feel of the original work. Bravo!!

[@notaire2]

Wunderschöne Aufführung dieses perfekt komponierten und fein arrangierten Meisterwerks mit gut vereinigten und perfekt entsprechenden Tönen aller Instrumente. Der dritte Satz klingt besonders schön und echt melodisch. Im Kontrast klingt der letzte Satz echt lebhaft und auch ethnisch. Der intelligente und geniale Dirigent leitet das ausgezeichnete Orchester in verschiedenen Tempi und mit angenehmer Dynamik. Wahrhaft hörenswert!

[@user-lq2tk6ll9s]

I am so happy that I found this music after some time looking for it. This music was stuck in my head for a while and I was looking for it. I totally could not remember who was composer and who orchestrated this music. Now I should remember it was composed by Brahms and orchestrated by Schoenberg.

[@DWClassicalMusic]

We're glad you finally found it! ☺️

[@xvsj5833]

Bravo 👏 Bravo 👏 ❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@bennyboost]

Probably the only work that Arnold Schoenberg did that I can appreciate. His own compositions are very difficult to listen to.

[@MM-111]

Wunderschön !

[@bogunwang3297]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@lenaN5k8Q9]

Beautiful music🍃thank you👏👏👏

[@markovelikonja5399]

I love this piece. A masterwork by Brahms overlaid by the genius of Schoenberg. I don't understand why it's not played as much as the four symphonies - maybe because it's harder and you have to rent (and pay royalties) on the score and parts?

[@mariainesdeandradealcantar3263]

❤️❤️👏👏🇩🇪🇩🇪💖💖🇦🇹🇦🇹