Maestro K, Sibelius, and Brahms

The music of three centuries is featured in the fourth subscription concert of the season. Anna Clyne wrote Masquerade for the conclusion of BBC’s 2013 Promenade concert series. The piece is inspired by 18th century English pleasure gardens, where people from all walks of life mingled to enjoy a wide array of music and other entertainments. A mainstay of the symphonic repertoire, Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52 (1907) by Jean Sibelius represents a turning point in his symphonic output. The First and Second symphonies are grandiose Romantic and patriotic works. The Third, however, shows a distinct, almost Classical desire to contain the largest amount of musical material in the fewest possible melodic figures, harmonies, and durations. (Wikipedia) In the summer of 1878, Johannes Brahms began writing the Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 for his friend Joseph Joachim, one of the great virtuosi of the 19th century. Brahms sent the solo part to Joachim for review; the violinist responded with enthusiasm and Brahms took many of his suggestions. (Heninger)