The “Three B’s” are traditionally Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, of course – but today we’re offering Boccherini, Brahms, and Berio.
The 20th century Italian composer Luciano Berio, noted for his avant-garde scores, was asked to orchestrate the F minor Clarinet Sonata by Johannes Brahms -- in 1986, for a Los Angeles Philharmonic concert featuring clarinetist Michele Zukofsky. Berio admired Brahms, and created a very respectful arrangement, but Berio couldn’t resist adding something of his own: a totally original 13-bar orchestral introduction that segues into the Brahms score.
Eleven years earlier, on today’s date in 1975, Berio’s orchestration of one of the ”greatest hits” of the 18th century Italian composer Luigi Boccherini received its premiere performance in Milan. Originally a quintet for strings, Boccherini’s “Night Music in the Streets of Madrid” was written around 1780 when he was living in Spain. This chamber work became very popular – even though Boccherini feared no one outside Madrid would understand it. 200 years after it was written, when asked to supply a short piece for the La Scala Orchestra in Milan, Berio arranged the final movement of Boccherini’s quintet, music evoking the procession of Madrid’s night watchmen signaling the midnight curfew.
Johannes Brahms (arr. Luciano Berio) – Clarinet Sonata No. 1 in f, Op. 120, no. 1 Luigi Boccherini (arr. Luciano Berio) – Ritirata notturna di Madrid (Daniel Ottensamer, cl; Basel Symphony; Ivor Bolton, conductor.) Sony 19075982072