Name: 4.SiKo Brahms and Dvořák – alliance of kindred spirits
Start: 2025-01-31T19:30:00
Location: Gotha Cultural Centre

Experience the enchantment of classical music with Thüringen Philharmonie's captivating series of events! From the powerful arias of opera to the rhythmically engaging ballet of 'Cinderella', and the sonic friendship between Brahms and Dvořák, these performances promise an unforgettable journey. Whether you're drawn to timeless fairy tales, Bohemian landscapes, or the vivacious beats of Hollywood, there's something for everyone. Join us as we delve into this vibrant celebration of musical artistry and cultural heritage, where every note tells a story.

A Symphony of Voices, Dance, and Melody: Discovering Thüringen Philharmonie's Diverse Performances

Markus Huber

Nikolai Tokarev

Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach

To be successful in art, you need sponsors. Even today's most famous composers would probably not have been driven to peak performance if a convoyeur in the background had not opened the doors to fame. "There is always a secret alliance of kindred spirits. Close the circle more tightly, you who belong together, so that the truth of art may shine ever more clearly [...]." This sentence by Robert Schumann in the "Neue Zeitschrift für Musik" in 1853 marked the beginning of the rapid career of the then virtually unknown Johannes Brahms. But this was by no means a guarantee of a breakthrough - Brahms' first piano concerto had been a complete failure at the age of 25. The audience expected above all effective circus acts and pianistic bravura. Instead, Brahms offered a concert in the strict spirit of the symphonic music. Brahms remained absolutely true to himself in his Piano Concerto No. 2, but this time the audience was euphoric and delighted, because he succeeded in merging symphonic form with the virtuoso character of a concert. For the first time in music history, the solo voice and orchestra were no longer competing in the traditional concerto sense, but complemented each other to form a symphonic whole. The Viennese critic Eduard Hanslick even spoke of a "symphony with obbligato piano", thereby expressing the innovative value of the composition. Brahms probably did not forget his mentor's words until the end of his life, because he himself formed an alliance with a kindred spirit, namely Antonín Dvořák. After the latter had applied for the "Austrian State Prize for Music" scholarship, Brahms ensured that Dvořák was awarded the contract. Brahms introduced the young composer to his own music publisher "Simrock", which published some of his compositions. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship and a lively artistic exchange. Dvořák's compositional style was massively influenced by Brahms' musical language, but he cannot be labelled as an epigone of Brahms. He was certainly able to preserve his own musical language, which was largely based on Bohemian folklore. This culminated in his "Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88", which is still very popular today, especially for its relaxed and cheerful optimism. 

4.SiKo Brahms and Dvořák – alliance of kindred spirits

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