The University of Melbourne
Philharmonic Orchestra Concert
The University of Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra will perform two works by Brahms at their first concert of 2024, opening with his Academic Festival Overture. In the Summer of 1880, Brahms reluctantly began writing a “thank you”, to the University of Breslau for offering him an honorary doctorate – initially, he simply wrote a letter but was swiftly told that a new composition would be more appropriate for such an honour. The composer (known to be a joker) added vulgar student drinking songs juxtaposed with music depicting pompous academics. It finishes with the celebrations of graduating students.
The concert will end with his Second Symphony. Brahms famously took 21 years to complete his First Symphony and only five months (in 1877) to write his second! The Second Symphony is sunny and cheery and yet (jokingly) he told his publisher “I’ve never written anything so melancholic…you won’t be able to bear it”. At the first performance, the critic Hanslick wrote “The Second Symphony shines, warming experts and the public alike…the work stands as proof that one can still write symphonies after Beethoven”.
PROGRAM
Johannes Brahms
Academic Festival Overture
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 2
ACCESSIBILITY
All venues at the Southbank campus are wheelchair accessible. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit: https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Due to current University guidelines, there are a number of conditions currently in place for our in-person events.
- The University continues to strongly encourage individuals to remain up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, but no longer requires evidence of vaccination in order to access campus.
- You are welcome to wear a face mask anywhere on campus for personal and community safety.
- Please stay at home if you feel unwell or have been ordered to isolate.
Walk-ups and latecomers will be admitted at the discretion of front of house staff.
To read more about the University's COVID-19 response, please visit: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/coronavirus.
