At the heart of this programme for choir and two pianos are the composer’s heartfelt Liebeslieder Walzer, which started life as piano duets before blossoming into vocal works without losing any of their touching intimacy.

Theories abound as to the relationship Brahms might have enjoyed with Clara Schumann and even her daughter Julie. But there’s no doubting that Brahms’s little love waltzes were inspired by Robert Schumann’s book of Spanish Love Songs of 1849. Both capture the essence of a love timid but intense, reassuring but frequently forbidden.

For this opening concert of the Brahmsfest at the Great Hall of the University of Bergen, the smooth blend of the Edvard Grieg Kor is underpinned by two of the most sensitive pianists around.

Edvard Grieg Kor
Christian Ihle Hadland, piano
Polina Leschenko, piano

Johannes Brahms
Liebesliederwalzer for kor og firhendig klaver

Robert Schumann
Vorspiel I, fra Spanische Liebeslieder, nr. 1, op. 138

Robert Schumann
Es ist verraten, fra Spanisches Liederspiel, nr. 5, op. 74

Robert Schumann
Ich bin geliebt, nr. 9 op. 75

Robert Schumann
Dunkler Lichtglanz, nr. 10, op. 138

Robert Schumann
Vorspiel II, fra Spanische Liebeslieder, nr. 6, op. 138

Robert Schumann
Fra Bilder aus Osten, nr. 4, op. 66, for firhendig klaver

Johannes Brahms
Ungarsk dans nr. 20 i h-moll, for firhendig klaver

Robert Schumann
2. sats, Langsam, fra Fiolinkonsert i d-moll, arrangert for firhendig klaver

Clara Schumann
Abendfeier in Venedig, for a cappella kor

Johannes Brahms
Neues Liebeslieder, op. 65, for kor og firhendig klaver