First Piano Concerto – Brahms

Today I’d like to share with you Piano Concerto No. 1 by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).

Brahms was born six years after Beethoven’s death and, just like the rest of the European musical establishment, has lived in Beethoven’s shadow. Beethoven set such a high standard that it paralyzed many composers of that era. As I wrote in the past, Franz Schubert, who lived a few blocks away from Beethoven, did not publish most of his work because he did not consider himself worthy of his talented neighbor. Like many masterpieces, this concerto received a cold reception at its premiere in 1859.