Brahms’s A German Requiem

Pre-Concert Chat at 5:45 PM
Lawn Paver Bar

Johannes Brahms

Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem), Op. 45

For all its title suggests, A German Requiem is more balm than dirge, a work offering comfort and faith in the power of love. Instead of the traditional Latin, Brahms selected texts from the German Lutheran Bible (hence the title) that emphasize hope and healing, and he didn’t tie the piece to any particular nationality or religion. Doing the vocal honors are the American Festival Chorus, soprano Christina Pier, and baritone Benjamin Appl.

Alasdair’s take on the program:

Brahms’s stroke of genius in writing this work was to write it for the living, not the dead, and its humanity exudes from every pore.