Friday, January 13, 2012

BBC Radio 3 to premiere newly discovered Brahms piano piece

BBC Radio 3 is to broadcast the first performance of a recently discovered ‘unknown’ Brahms piano work on Saturday 21st January at 12:15pm in Music Matters presented by Tom Service.

Albumblatt, the short piece which lasts two minutes was written in 1853 when Brahms was just 20. It was found by conductor and musicologist Christopher Hogwood as he looked through a music collection in the United States.

BBC Radio 3 recorded the work for the first time with the celebrated Hungarian pianist Andras Schiff and, in what will be a global premiere, will broadcast Albumblatt as part of an interview with Christopher Hogwood about the discovery in advance of it being published in February by Barenreiter. Andras Schiff who was asked by Radio 3 to be the first to perform the piece will also be interviewed in the programme. 

The work features the same theme as that in the Trio section of the 2nd movement of Brahms’ Horn Trio op.40. However Hogwood, who has edited a forthcoming new edition of the Horn Trio op.40, says the piano piece precedes the Horn Trio by 12 years.

Controller of BBC Radio 3, Roger Wright, commented: “As the home of classical music, BBC Radio 3 is honoured to be the first to broadcast this rare work. I know that our millions of listeners will enjoy this exclusive premiere. Albumblatt is an incredible discovery which gives a fascinating insight into the workings of this great composer."

Following the premiere on Radio 3 on the 21st January at 12:15pm, a behind-the-scenes video of the recording will be available on the Radio 3 website from 21st January after the programme transmits. The piece is being published for the first time later in February.

Music Matters is Radio 3’s topical weekend music magazine programme. Presented by Tom Service and Suzy Klein the show covers a wide range of current classical musical topics and debates spanning politics, events, education and interviews with well-known industry names.

(Source : BBC Press Office)

No comments:

Post a Comment