Johanna Müller-Hermann 1868–1941
Heroic Overture op. 21
interlude with Thomas Guggeis
Friedrich Gulda 1930–2000
Concerto for cello & woodwind / brass orchestra
Johannes Brahms 1833–1897
Symphony Nr. 1 in C minor op. 68
pre-concert talk by Klaus-Albert Bauer at 18.30hrs in the main auditorium
One female and two male composers, who lived, or chose to live in Vienna but couldn't have been more different. Brahms' 1st symphony, a classical, romantic symphony which made him, for many, Beethoven's obvious successor, not least because of the main motif in the last movement, so reminiscent of the »Ode to joy« from Beethoven's 9th. »Strange every idiot hears the same thing«, Brahms was supposed to have grumbled.
Less than forty years later Vienna born Johanna Müller-Hermann left classical-romantic traditions behind in her Heroic Overture. Chromaticism, daring harmonic twists and turns and radiant orchestration seem to echo Alexander Zemlinsky and Franz Schmidt, who taught her and influenced her.
Friedrich Gulda's bold yet playful cello concerto defies all stylistic conventions. Sometimes the cello accompanies a jazz combo; sometimes it sings Alpine ballads; then it listens to ardent alphorn and French horn sounds that seem to caricature the overture to Freischütz, before getting swept away by an exciting Bohemian polka - Friedrich Gulda crowning the cello with a colourful cap, like he always wore in life and on stage.
