Brahms, Requiem at St. Stephen’s Cathedral

About the Event

Experience the renowned German Requiem by Johannes Brahms at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, an extraordinary piece created not as funeral music but to soothe those who 'bear sorrow.'

Despite its title, the German Requiem isn’t funeral music in the traditional sense. Its heart lies in comforting the bereaved rather than focusing on the eternal rest of the deceased. This piece, meant for the living, mirrors the composer’s personal emotions and text selections, influenced by the recent loss of his mother.

Music critic Eduard Hanslick, often difficult to impress, praised Brahms' German Requiem, declaring it unparalleled since Bach's Mass in B minor and Beethoven's Missa solemnis. This acclaim marked Brahms' breakthrough, with the Requiem becoming his most celebrated piece.

Alois Glaßner expertly conducts the mdw Sinfonietta and Chamber Choir alongside the Chamber Choir of the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar, achieving remarkable musical feats. Their repertoire is diverse, featuring at least one a cappella piece and a choral‐orchestral work, like Handel’s Messiah, each academic year.