Prom 41 (18.08.20) Giulini conducts Brahms

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

BBC Proms: Brahms’s development in the time between composing his First and Second Symphonies was remarkable. Despite finishing it less than a year after the premiere of his First, the Second Symphony belongs to an entirely different world. It is an expansive, full-bodied work, infused with the idyllic surroundings of the Austrian spa town in which it was written.

In this concert from the 1994 Proms, Italian maestro Carlo Maria Giulini and the European Union Youth Orchestra pair the symphony with Brahms’s final effort in the medium: his thrilling Fourth. Written at the height of his musical powers (again, within a year of its predecessor), it is the first symphony by any composer to incorporate a strict set of variations into one of its movements: the finale is based on a repeating bass melody from Bach’s Cantata 150, Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich’.

Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major
Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor

European Union Youth Orchestra
Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm not at all impressed by the BBC website's first paragraph.

[edashtav]

I'm not at all impressed by the BBC website's first paragraph.

[Alison]

In what ways is the Second more ‘expansive’ and ‘full bodied’ than its predecessor?!

[Ein Heldenleben]

In what ways is the Second more ‘expansive’ and ‘full bodied’ than its predecessor?!

Yes the opening of Brahms 1 is about as full-bodied as it gets. If anything the second is lighter in texture . Although it is very different in overall atmosphere - a sunnier work - like the first it’s full of unmistakeable Brahmsian fingerprints.

[CallMePaul]

I was at this concert, near the front of the arena, and it was a marvellous experience. I am open to correction, but I think this was Giulini's last UK appearance. Brahms 4 is my favourite of the symphonies and it pairs better with the second than with either of the odd-numbered symphonies IMO.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Yes the opening of Brahms 1 is about as full-bodied as it gets. If anything the second is lighter in texture . Although it is very different in overall atmosphere - a sunnier work - like the first it’s full of unmistakeable Brahmsian fingerprints.

Probably a headline written by an outside agency, who don't know the works in question - or about Brahms's very late emergence as a symphonist.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Probably a headline written by an outside agency, who don't know the works in question - or about Brahms's very late emergence as a symphonist.

I’d often wondered whether you’d considered rewriting these blurbs? When I first read them I rather naively thought they were your words. I pretty soon realised they weren’t ..!
You see a similar inaccurate summary on the Royal Opera House webpages - trying to sum up a really complex work like Tristan ( A timeless love story that echoes down the ages , a deadly love triangle etc ) is well-nigh impossible.

[cloughie]

In what ways is the Second more ‘expansive’ and ‘full bodied’ than its predecessor?!

It isn’t. It is filled with shear beauty and warmth - by far my favourite of the four - the other three are however pretty good!

[hmvman]

You see a similar inaccurate summary on the Royal Opera House webpages - trying to sum up a really complex work like Tristan ( A timeless love story that echoes down the ages , a deadly love triangle etc ) is well-nigh impossible.

This reminds me of the very early days of Classic FM when I heard a presenter say, "...how can I sum up 'Don Giovanni'? Dallas - with spaghetti."

[Ein Heldenleben]

This reminds me of the very early days of Classic FM when I heard a presenter say, "...how can I sum up 'Don Giovanni'? Dallas - with spaghetti."

Yes - tapas would have been more accurate.

[cloughie]

Yes - tapas would have been more accurate.

Or at home with Mozart - with Schnitzel with noodles!

[Alison]

Towering performances tonight.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Towering performances tonight.

After this afternoon’s extraordinary Bruckner 8 with Wand and the BBC SO I’m a bit in the they-don’t-make-em like -that- any -more mode. The flexibility of tempo , the extraordinary care put into phrasing and the preparation of the string sound , that wonderful unponderous swelling and diminuendo of long violin notes - Guilini must have learnt so much as a distinguished violist. What a day for lovers of the romantic symphonic repertoire!

[Petrushka]

Towering performances tonight.

Couldn't agree more, Alison. Can't think why I didn't go to this Prom but I wasn't as keen on Brahms then as I am now and was more looking forward to Abbado in Mahler 9 with the BPO a few days later.

The Brahms 4 from the Giulini Prom was televised the following Thursday, Aug 25.