125

Wishing the soprano were more daring

Johannes Brahms

Autograph Letter Signed, "J. Brahms," to composer Ferdinand Thieriot,

in German, confessing a secret wish that the first soprano's performance of [A German] Requiem were more rebellious, complaining of not having time to play the piano, comparing the pace of life in Graz with that in Vienna, asking whether the Requiem movements should be placed in the middle and Fantasy at the end of the Graz concert program, wondering why he never visits Vienna, and remarking that a recent Bach chorale performance would have pleased him. 3 pages, small 8vo, written on a folded sheet; horizontal fold. With the original envelope.

Vienna [from postmark], December 1873.

  • Notes: ". . . Secretly, I had hoped that the 1st soprano would have become somewhat rebellious during Requiem. It's a lively thought, now that the whole of Semmering [resort town in Austria] is certainly white [with snow], that we should sacrifice our few days of peace and quiet, and therefore, quite rightly, holidays. I certainly don't have time to play the piano. . . .
    ". . . In Graz, they are surely happy about an interruption, but here, one doesn't know where to go! If you had any idea how things are here, you would gladly excuse me.
    "But your program isn't staying like this, is it? The Requiem movements could be in the middle, couldn't they? The fantasy at the end?
    "More inexplicable than my staying away is your never coming!
    ". . . Recently, a Bach chorus would certainly have given you pleasure. The change must be pleasant or refreshing for you, just as peace and quiet are for me . . . ."

    In April 1868, the first performance of Brahms's A German Requiem was conducted in Vienna by the composer himself. In May of that year, Brahms added a fifth movement ("Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit"), which requires a soprano soloist. After two more movements were added, the first complete performance was held in Leipzig on February 18, 1869.
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April 9, 2026 12:00 PM EDT
New York, NY, US

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