Search - Johannes Brahms, Harry Christophers, Christopher Glynn :: Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem

"Richly rewarding; a matchless choir." -- Gramophone "A triumph." -- The Independent One of the world's leading choirs performs a rare edition of the piano duet version of Brahms's Requiem, using a grand piano from the composer's era. Brahms himself made the piano transcription of the orchestral parts of his magnificent German Requiem, a piece never intended for church performance. The arrangement for two players allows a degree of intimacy, precision, and contrapuntal clarity that cannot be achieved in the orchestral version; at times one is reminded of the Liebeslieder-Walzer, Op. 52. In 1871, this version was given its English premiere conducted by Brahms's friend Julius Stockhausen. It is thus appropriate that the piano used on this recording is a Bösendorfer of 1872. The Sixteen, one of the jewels in the musical crown of Britain, enjoys a worldwide reputation.