Brahms's First

Brahms finally overcame his writer’s block when it came to writing a symphony at the age of 43. The shadow of Beethoven loomed so ominously that the composer took decades to complete his First Symphony. This triumphal work has rightfully found its place among the masterpieces of the 19th-century repertoire. A season-long collection of serenades would not be complete without the work of Mozart, who transformed this casual, entertaining genre into truly a genuine and legitimate style. His “Gran Partita” for 12 winds and one double bass is modest in instrumentation but profound in its scope. Consisting of seven movements that vary from joyful dances to pensive adagios, the 40-minute work projects a depth similar to that of his symphonies and piano concertos.