Recorded in August 2022 at concerts given in Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie by the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg under Kent Nagano, this version of Johannes Brahms's celebrated choral masterpiece will come as a surprise to many. The German Requiem is heard not in its usual seven movement version, but rather as it was first performed in Bremen Cathedral on 10th April 1868 (Good Friday) under Brahms's direction, without the fifth movement for soprano and choir that was completed later that year. On the other hand, there are numerous interludes, instrumental and vocal, secular and sacred, by Bach, Tartini, Schumann and Handel – including pieces that were then regarded as essential parts of a Good Friday concert. Such a programme might seem unusual today, but these musical additions shed new light on Brahms's work, which in this version manifests itself as what Umberto Eco might have described as an 'open work'.
Presenting the work in the form heard at the Bremen premiere is more than just a reconstruction: it enriches our understanding of this unique music.
Disc 1 Playing time: 71'52
BRAHMS, Johannes (1833—97)
Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (Bremen Version — opening) to Words of the Holy Scriptures, for solists, choir and orchestra
Urtext of the new Brahms Edition edited by Michael Struck and Michael Musgrave (Breitkopf & Härtel)
1 I. Selig sind, die da Leid tragen (choir) 9'48
2 II. Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras (choir) 13'59
3 III. Herr, lehre doch mich (baritone & choir) 9'29
BACH, Johann Sebastian (1685—1750)
4 Andante from Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 5'52
Version for violin and organ by Thomas Cornelius
TARTINI, Giuseppe (1692—1770)
5 Andante from Violin Concerto in B flat major, D 120 2'13
Version for violin and organ by Thomas Cornelius
SCHUMANN, Robert (1810—56)
6 Abendlied, 2'47
No. 12 of 'Zwolf Klavierstucke fur kleine und grosse Kinder', Op. 85 Version for violin and organ by Joseph Joachim (violin) and Thomas Cornelius (organ)
BRAHMS, Johannes
Ein deutsches Requiem (conclusion)
7 IV. Wie lieblich sind Deine Wohnungen (choir) 4'55
8 VI. Denn wir haben hie (baritone & choir) 11'12
9 VII. Selig sind die Toten (choir) 10'22
Disc 2 Playing time: 20'58
BACH, Johann Sebastian
1 Erbarme dich from the St Matthew Passion, BWV 244 7'19
(alto, solo violin, strings and continuo)
HÄNDEL, Georg Friedrich (1685—1759)
from Der Messias, in the arrangement by W. A. Mozart, K 572
2 Kommt her und seht das Lamm (choir) 2'51
3 Ich weiB, dass mein Erloser lebet (soprano aria) 6'14
4 Halleluja (choir) 3'38
