This week on Classic 107, we’re unwrapping a very special birthday present—except it’s for you, not Brahms. To mark Johannes Brahms’ birthday on May 7, we’re devoting our 1 p.m. feature hour from May 5 to 9 to some of his finest chamber works with piano. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the master of romantic intensity, warm textures, and those deliciously rich harmonies.
From piano trios to quartets and that towering piano quintet, we’ve got a week of powerful performances lined up, featuring some of the world’s most revered interpreters of Brahms. Whether you're a seasoned listener or new to Brahms’ chamber works, tune in daily at 1 p.m. for music that’s sure to stir the soul.
Monday, May 5 – Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34
Performed by Quartetto Italiano with Maurizio Pollini, piano
Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor is often hailed as one of the greatest chamber music works of the 19th century. But it didn’t start that way—Brahms originally wrote it as a string quintet, then reworked it as a two-piano sonata, before finally landing on the version we know today. This trial-and-error process paid off; the final work marries the power of a piano concerto with the intimacy of chamber music, a synthesis that gives it an epic, symphonic feel.
The piece unfolds over four expansive movements, beginning with brooding intensity and moving through a tender Andante, a fiery Scherzo, and a dramatic finale. The performance by Quartetto Italiano and pianist Maurizio Pollini brings clarity and passion to every phrase, highlighting Brahms' ability to blend instrumental voices into a single, emotionally charged narrative.
Tuesday, May 6 – Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60
Performed by Ensemble Made in Canada
Nicknamed the "Werther Quartet" for its connection to Goethe’s tragic hero, this deeply emotional work offers a window into Brahms’ inner world—particularly his unrequited love for Clara Schumann. Brahms began composing the piece in 1855 but didn’t complete it until two decades later, during a turbulent period in his life. The result is a work that’s dark, stormy, and unflinchingly honest.
The opening Allegro is restless and dramatic, followed by a gently melancholic Romanze and a pained Andante that feels almost confessional. The finale offers a glimpse of resolve, though not without a final struggle. Ensemble Made in Canada brings a fresh and thoughtful interpretation to the quartet, balancing its emotional gravity with subtle nuance.
Wednesday, May 7 – Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8 (revised version)
Performed by Maria João Pires (piano), Augustin Dumay (violin), Jian Wang (cello)
Brahms' first piano trio was one of his earliest published works, written when he was just 20. But in true Brahms fashion, he wasn’t satisfied. Decades later, in 1889, he drastically revised the piece, transforming it into a more mature and tightly structured work while preserving the youthful lyricism of the original.
The revised Trio No. 1 blends lush Romantic melodies with intricate contrapuntal writing. The opening movement is spacious and lyrical, the Scherzo is driven and energetic, and the slow movement offers a hymn-like serenity before the dramatic finale. Pires, Dumay, and Wang deliver a performance that is both refined and deeply expressive, making this a birthday broadcast not to be missed.
Thursday, May 8 – Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 101
Performed by Emanuel Ax (piano), Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello)
Written during a summer holiday in Switzerland in 1886, Brahms' third piano trio is a compact and intense work that wastes no time getting to the emotional core. At just around 20 minutes long, it’s one of Brahms' most concise chamber pieces, but its brevity only heightens its urgency and power.
From the restless first movement to the haunting slow second and the fleet-footed third, the trio feels like a tightly coiled spring. The finale bursts with energy and contrapuntal interplay, showcasing Brahms at his most economical and expressive. This performance, featuring three giants of the classical music world, brings both warmth and precision to this taut and compelling work.
Friday, May 9 – Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
Performed by Emanuel Ax (piano), Isaac Stern (violin), Jaime Laredo (viola), Yo-Yo Ma (cello)
The G minor piano quartet is pure Brahms—stormy, rhythmic, and full of character. Its final movement, a whirling Rondo alla Zingarese (in the Hungarian style), has made it a crowd favourite, but the entire work is a tour de force of Romantic-era chamber music. It was first performed with Clara Schumann at the piano, and its blend of high drama and lyrical tenderness hints at their deep, if complicated, bond.
The quartet opens with sweeping gestures and unfolds into a lush Intermezzo and a soulful Andante before ending in the fiery, dance-like finale. The dream-team ensemble of Ax, Stern, Laredo, and Ma brings out the vitality, clarity, and soul of this unforgettable work—an exuberant close to a weeklong birthday tribute to Brahms.
Let the music of Brahms with piano fill your afternoons all week long at 1 p.m. on Classic 107. Happy listening—and happy birthday, Johannes!