In the first movement of Johannes Brahms' Cello Sonata No. 1, the cello immediately takes earlier center stage with the cantabile main theme. The Sonata op. 38 was composed in two stages, with Brahms writing the first three movements in 1862 and the last one three years later. Before it was published, he removed one of the middle movements, possibly fearing that the sonata could be too long. The first and third movements contain short passages that seem borrowed from Beethoven and Bach; some experts see them as a homage to these composers.

Program:

Johannes Brahms

Sonata for cello and piano No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38

Performed by:

Johannes Moser (cello)

Paul Rivinius (piano)

Recorded by Deutsche Welle at the Collegium Leoninum, in Bonn, Germany on September 25, 2009

Norbert Hornig/gz/kjb