Johannes Brahms breathed new life into the symphony with his first work in the genre which made possible further developments in the form by later symphonists including Jean Sibelius and Carl Nielsen, both of whom spent their student years in Vienna. Orchestral master works by the three composers transcribed for chamber ensembles were featured in the second concert of the new season presented by the Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble on Tuesday, October 18th at St. Paul’s Cathedral in downtown Oklahoma City. An ensemble of seven opened the concert with the tone poem En Saga by Jean Sibelius and special guest conductor Joel Levine led ensembles of nine musicians in the Clarinet concerto by Carl Nielsen and the first Serenade of Johannes Brahms. Featured ensemble musicians are violinists Gregory Lee and Katrin Stamatis, violist Mark Neumann, cellist Meredith Blecha-Wells, double bassist George Speed, flutist Parthena Owens, clarinetists Chad Burrow and Joshua Anderson, hornist Kate Pritchett and percussionist David Steffens.
This program airs Saturday, December 3rd, 8pm on Classical 88.7 HD-1.