Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2

Brahms’ two piano concertos could not possibly be any more
different.  The first, written when Brahms was just 25, is
dramatic, stormy, and impulsive.  This makes sense seeing at
it was written practically as a direct response to the attempted
suicide of his friend and mentor Robert Schumann.  The
second, written 22 years later when Brahms was a seasoned and
mature composer at the height of his abilities, was not, as far
as we know, inspired by any specific event.  It is a warm,
almost sun-tanned piece, but it also does something that makes it
both the perfect piece to analyze on a show like this, but also
makes it a rather elusive one that takes some baking to really
understand and appreciate.  What Brahms does in the 2nd
piano concerto is to distill everything that makes Brahms really
Brahms into one 50 minute piece of music.  There’s
continuous development, gorgeous melodic lines, contrasts of
character, stern willful music immediately followed by
tenderness, Hungarian music, light music - it’s ALL there - but
here’s the key - it’s not an events based piece.  What I
mean by that is that its not like Brahms moves from one character
or personality trait to another like he’s putting together
mismatching clothes.  Instead, he integrates all of these
different facets of his music into the whole - one moment you are
hearing stern and powerful music, and the next, almost without
realizing, you are into some of the most tender music he ever
wrote.  This is the power but also the complexity  of
Brahms’ 2nd piano concerto.  Join us to learn all about it!