Symphony Concert N° 12

Daniele Gatti brings his Schumann cycle to a close with the »Rhenish« symphony. The premiere in February 1851 was an unmitigated triumph; indeed, the work became the composer’s most popular piece during his lifetime. Some two years later, one of the most significant meetings in music history took place when the 20-year-old Johannes Brahms from Hamburg introduced himself to Schumann, then aged 43. The latter was moved to pick up his pen once again to praise his young colleague in the article »Neue Bahnen« (New Pathways). For many years this paean became something of an albatross for Brahms. But as a mature composer, he more than fulfilled the lofty prophecies with extraordinary works such as the violin concerto from 1878.