Brahms, Johannes - Serenades Nos. 1 & 2 - Martin, Jaime
Toimitusaika: Noin 7 arkipäivää
This Ondine recording is the first instalment in a series of Brahms recording with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra and their chief conductor Jaime Martín. Together with the orchestra Martín offers delightful interpretations of these two early examples of Brahms’ orchestral writing.
Jaime Martín became the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Gävle Symphony Orchestra in 2013. During recent years orchestral engagements have led the rising conductor to collaborate with several prominent orchestras around the world. Martín is also Chief Conductor of the Orquestra de Cadaqués and known for his active career as solo flautist.
Johannes Brahms’ (1833–1897) two orchestral Serenades were written in the late 1850s and together with the 1st Piano Concerto offer the earliest surviving examples of his orchestral writing. Brahms revised the 1st Serenade several times, and intended “to transform the 1st Serenade into a symphony”. The 6 movement work, originally titled as Nachtmusik, is an impressive poetic creation by the young composer.
Serenade No. 2 has an unusual chamber-music setting: double woodwinds, two horns and a string ensemble that entirely omits the bright sound of violins and instead deploys the violas as the principal part. The second Serenade has somewhat remained in the shadow of the popularity of the 1st Serenade. However, Clara Schumann, who received the Adagio and Menuett-Trio as a birthday present, responded with enthusiasm to the new work. She described the Adagio as “something ecclesiastical”, “it could be an Eleison”, and admitted in her accompanying letter returning the score: “With the Adagio I part with the greatest difficulty, as it is very dear to me.”