Category Archives: Orchestral

On this day – the first performance of Richard Strauss’s Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche

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by Ben Hogwood. Image unattributed, used courtesy of Wikipedia

On this day in 1895, the first performance took place of a much-loved work by Richard Strauss. Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche (Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks) was published as the composer’s Op.28, and is a portrait of the German peasant.

Strauss’s melodic invention and canny orchestration make this piece a treat, with genuine wit and musical humour that works a treat when given a good performance. You can watch a live performance below, with the London Symphony Orchestra & François-Xavier Roth:

Published post no.2,719 – Saturday 14 November 2025

On this day – the first performance of Hindemith’s Der Schwanendreher

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published by Ben Hogwood, using text from the Brilliant Classics website

On this day in 1935, Paul Hindemith gave the first performance of his own three-movement concerto for viola and orchestra, Der Schwanendreher (The Swan Turner).

As the website notes, the concerto “is based on medieval German folk songs. While the ‘swan turner’ was literally someone who turned the spit of a roasting swan, metaphorically it referred to an itinerant minstrel whose street organ or hurdy-gurdy was cranked via a swan’s-neck handle. He composed the work between September and October 1935, and it was premiered at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, with the composer (a virtuoso violist who did much to elevate the instrument’s status) serving as soloist.”

You can read more about the work – and the new release profiled above – on the Brilliant Classics website, or watch a superb live performance below, with soloist Antoine Tamestit and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Paavo Järvi:

Published post no.2,718 – Friday 14 November 2025

On Armistice Day – Philip Sawyers: Remembrance for Strings

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by Ben Hogwood

To mark Armistice Day, here is a relatively recent piece of memorial from the composer Philip Sawyers (above). When writing about this work in 2022 I noted,

“A recent work, Remembrance for Strings, made an instant impact. This deeply emotive, thought provoking piece has a hint of Elgar in its profoundly elegiac tone and scoring, but unmistakably bears Sawyers’ fingerprints as the theme evolves, gradually creeping upwards. The strings of the ESO were perfectly paced by Woods, giving the theme plenty of room and bringing the important viola and cello lines through the texture. Sawyers finds effective contrasts between notable pain points of discord and an almost complete stillness as the strings collect their thoughts, holding their collective breath in ideally weighted phrasing. This deeply affecting piece deserves to be heard much further afield, its impact comparable (if notably different) to that of Barber’s Adagio for Strings. A note for Emily Davis, the ESO guest leader, who gave a touching final solo.”

Here it is, in those capable hands:

Published post no.2,715 – Tuesday 11 November 2025

On this day – the first performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto no.2

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by Ben Hogwood

On this day in 1881, Johannes Brahms took to the stage to play in the world premiere of his Piano Concerto no.2 in B flat major, Op.83, with Alexander Erkel conducting the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra.

The concerto is one of the biggest in the repertoire. Set in four movements and lasting well over 40 minutes, it is more symphonic in structure, with demands of stamina and technique for the soloist that complement the more tempestuous Piano Concerto no.1.

The Second is a more obviously graceful work, from the lilting horn theme at the start to its elegant slow movement, where a solo cello plays a particularly beautiful melody. There are moments of grandeur – especially in the first two movements – while the finale is a dance, light on its feet and brimming with good spirits.

You can listen to a performance below from Yefim Bronfman, with Sir Antonio Pappano conducting the Verbier Festival Orchestra:

Published post no.2,713 – Sunday 9 November 2025

On this day – the first performance of Philip Glass: Symphony no.8

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by Ben Hogwood Photo of Glass by WNYC New York Public Radio, used from Wikipedia

On this day in 2005, the world premiere of the Symphony no.8 by Philip Glass took place. Generally the symphony has not been a form to fire the imagination of minimalist composers – Steve Reich, for instance, has not written one – but Glass has found a way of integrating symphonic thought and form with subtly repetitive figures.

The Eighth is a more exploratory, chromatic work in three movements, a substantial piece lasting nearly 40 minutes. Here it is with the performers from the premiere, the Bruckner Orchestra Linz conducted by Dennis Russell Davies:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4JXQOm6Imw93JBOsDn48X2

Published post no.2,706 – Sunday 2 November 2025