Johannes Brahms is a funny one in the history of classical music. When you first hear his work it seems older than it is, like he should be further to the left on the following timeline, by birth date ...

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. The epithet “autumnal” is ...

Aside from symphonies by Brahms, Beethoven, Prokofiev and Wagner in the Classical Series, the Film + Live Orchestra Series ...

Joshua Kosman is the Chronicle’s former classical music critic. He retired in 2024, after covering classical music for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1988, reviewing and reporting on the wealth of ...

Brahms thought he was out of steam as a composer until he met clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld in 1891. Out came a late burst of chamber music, including a clarinet trio and clarinet quintet and the two ...

Why would ultra-serious Johannes Brahms write not one, but two serenades—pieces usually meant for light entertainment? He was working his way up to writing symphonies. Brahms dedicated his second ...

For our first selection tonight, perhaps it would be best if we first define the term “arabesque.” As some of you may know, an arabesque can be a complex pattern of intertwining lines, famously found ...

Harmonielehre's opening E minor chords ring out with unusual force in this swiftly-paced performance. The benchmark performance remains Michael Tilson Thomas's recent live San Francisco Symphony ...

The BPO Classics Series, titled SHOSTAKOVICH NO. 5, opened Friday, February 6 at 10:30 (a “coffee concert”) and will conclude ...