Y. Nézet-Séguin: Brahms Cycle I

“Johannes Brahms and women” sounds like a bad soap opera. But the bristly Brahms, who apologized for “not having offended anyone today,” cherished deep friendships with women. Reason enough for Yannick Nézet-Séguin to add this aspect to his summer festival dedicated to the composer. The program features appealing contrasts: Clara Schumann wrote her Piano Concerto at the age of sixteen, while her later friend toiled at his first symphonic work for fourteen years before finally completing it in his mid-forties in Baden-Baden’s Lichtental. Titanic C minor or youthful artistry? We look forward to enjoying both today.