Johannes Brahms was one of the nineteenth century's preeminent composers and one of its polarizing musical figures. He was widely hailed as Beethoven's true successor in his own lifetime, but his open disdain for program music set him in opposition to the followers of Liszt and Wagner. Today Brahms is an audience favourite and holds a commanding position in music history.
John Bell Young guides the listener through a wide selection of Brahms's works in detail, culminating in a discussion of the beloved German Requiem. Young's thoughtful commentary considers various aspects of the composer's life, including the views of his peers and his complex relationships with women, always putting Brahms's compelling music in a context of his times and his environment. The accompanying CD features performances from the Music And Arts and Gallo labels and, for the first time in the Unlocking the Masters series, recordings made specifically for this book.