Ensemble ATL presents "Brahms (Re)constructed: The Serenade No. 1, op. 11 for Nonet"

From the venue:

Ensemble ATL, directed by Robert J. Ambrose, presents a rarely heard chamber reconstruction of Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 11 by Johannes Brahms. First conceived in 1857 for nine musicians, the work captures Brahms at a formative moment as he explored Classical forms, orchestral color, and lyric expression well before his first symphony.

Performed in a reconstructed nonet version for winds and strings, the six-movement serenade unfolds with warmth and clarity. Two contrasting scherzos surround a radiant Adagio, the emotional center of the work, while the minuet and lively rondo reflect the serenade traditions of Mozart and Haydn. This intimate setting highlights Brahms’ transparent textures and melodic generosity.

The performance includes remarks by Marie Sumner Lott, a nationally recognized musicologist whose scholarship focuses on nineteenth-century music and listening culture.