April 13th, 2023 - 3:28pm
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 2
Jim Stopher, director
It took Johannes Brahms 21 years of on-and-off work to complete his first symphony in 1876 - but once the ice was broken, his newfound confidence in the genre propelled him to finish his second symphony the following year. The Symphony No. 2 in D Major showcases Brahms in an overtly optimistic mood, with lush harmonies, gorgeous melodies, and one of the most triumphant endings to be found in the literature. Jean Sibelius's popular and moving tone poem Finlandia opens the program.