It is that time once again, when Sheralyn and I trek to Jones Hall in downtown Houston on Saturday night, November 19, to hear our world class Houston Symphony Orchestra. What a concert program this will be as it contains two of my favorite composers and two of my favorite pieces. In the first half of the program, the feature piece will be Robert Schumann’s melodic piano concerto, and after intermission will be Johannes Brahms glorious third symphony. Both Schumann and Brahms were German composers and virtuoso pianists, and two of the most influential composers of the Romantic Era of music. These two well known friends were both known for their beautiful melodic orchestrations and piano and chamber music pieces.
From the Houston Symphony Orchestra’s website, this about the concert program: “Brahms’s glorious Third Symphony is one of orchestral music’s great masterworks, unfurling a seemingly endless cascade of gorgeous melodies. Combining stormy passion and virtuoso fireworks with crystalline beauty and tender, heartfelt sentiment, Schumann’s Piano Concerto shines in the hands of phenomenal French pianist Lise de la Salle. The performances open with Lili Boulanger’s enlivening Of a Spring Morning.”
Schumann’s dramatic piano concerto is one of my favorite piano concertos and it is scored in A minor with three movements: 1. Allegro Affettuoso; 2. Andantino Grazioso; and 3. Allegro Vivace.
Johannes Brahms beautiful 3rd symphony is my favorite of his symphonies and Brahms scores it in F Major with four movements: 1. Allegro con brio; Andante; Poco Allegretto; and 4. Allegro.
As usual whenever the fetching Mrs. B and I go to a Houston Symphony concert I like to share a couple of the pieces we will be hearing. So, please turn up the volume, play in full screen and enjoy these two melodic Romantic pieces by Schumann and Brahms.
Robert Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor:
Johannes Brahms: Symphony #3 in F Major:
Classical Music With Big Mike 