JOHANNES BRAHMS

Two positions emerged in the German-Austrian musical culture of the mid-19th century. Richard Wagner nurtured new traditions in composing “music of the future”,  and Johannes Brahms saw “music of the future” as utopia and could not accept the termination of development of pure instrumental music. The composer was interested in various genres except opera. His symphonies, concerti and chamber music enjoy great recognition. Brahms often composed his works in pairs. For example, the first two symphonies were written practically at the same time, so were his Third and Fourth symphonies. The Violin Concerto and Second Piano Concerto were also written simultaneously. In 1880, Brahms composed two contrasting overtures. One is the cheerful and light-hearted Akademische Festouvertüre

(Academic Festival Overture), Op. 80, the other –  dark and dramatic Tragische Ouvertüre (Tragic Overture), Op. 81. The latter, conducted by Hans Richter, was premiered in Vienna on December 26, 1880. By choosing the title Tragic, Brahms wanted to emphasize the overture’s stormy character, but there is no programmatic plot in the work. Summing up the character differences of these overtures, Brahms stated that “one laughs and the other cries”.

The Lithuanian National Orchestra is conducted by Martynas Stakionis, a young conductor making a headlong rise on the big scene.