Photo : Mathias Depardon
Shall We Dance, Brahms?
Prepare to be swept away by the rhythmic fire of Hungarian dances and the symphonic grandeur of Brahms this weekend. Whether you are a long-time admirer of his stirring compositions or just looking to lose yourself in hauntingly beautiful melodies, this performance offers the perfect escape into the heart of 19th-century mastery.
Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris 1st)
About
On Tuesday, April 13, 2027, the Théâtre du Châtelet hosts a unique concert dedicated to Johannes Brahms and Antonín Dvořák. From 20:00 to 22:00, audiences can explore the depth of Brahms’s third symphony and selections from his Hungarian Dances, alongside Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances. This musical exploration of the historical connection between these two composers is fully accessible to blind or visually impaired guests. With ticket prices ranging from 5 to 45 €, this evening offers a perfect opportunity to enjoy masterworks of the romantic repertoire in the heart of Paris's 1st arrondissement.
Clara, whether alone for a decade, or with Johannes or Joseph, often ended her concerts with a bouquet of these irresistible Hungarian Dances, whether fiery or languorous, with their elastic, syncopated, swinging rhythm and cimbalom effects.
Brigitte François-Sappey,This concert focuses on Johannes Brahms, specifically his Third Symphony and his Hungarian Dances. The German composer was in his forties when he wrote his four symphonies in just over a decade (1876-1885). And while the third is by far the least played in concert, it is also the best known, because the third movement was used in the soundtrack of the film Goodbye Again (Aimez-vous Brahms?), filmed in 1960s Paris, with Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins, and Yves Montand. Composed in Wiesbaden, it premiered in Vienna on December 2, 1883, by Hans Richter, who immediately gave it the nickname 'Eroica' as a tribute to Ludwig van Beethoven. As for the Hungarian Dances, published by Simrock in the very late 1860s, they carry no opus number because Johannes Brahms did not claim authorship, considering himself an arranger of themes he had collected from the Hungarian violinist Ede Reményi. Meanwhile, in Prague, Antonin Dvořák had made a name for himself in the 1870s for performing a hymn that earned him a position as organist and professor at the Conservatory.
But it is to Johannes Brahms that he owes his recognition as a composer: it is thanks to him that he met Simrock and that his work was distributed throughout Central Europe.
Program
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90
Antonín Dvořák
Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 and 72 (excerpts)
Johannes Brahms
Hungarian Dances, Op. deest (excerpts)
Our take on this event
Join us on Tuesday, April 13, 2027, at the Théâtre du Châtelet for an evening focused on the works of Johannes Brahms and Antonín Dvořák. Running from 20:00 to 22:00, the performance features Brahms’s Symphony No. 3 in F major, a piece famously premiered in 1883 and later dubbed 'heroic'. The program continues with extracts from Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances and Brahms’s own Hungarian Dances, showcasing the intricate relationship between the two composers who shared a pivotal professional history through their publisher, Simrock.
Tickets are available from 5 to 45 €. To ensure a welcoming experience for all, the venue is equipped to host blind and visually impaired patrons. Whether you are a fan of symphonic structure or the rhythmic vitality of folk-inspired dances, this event at the Théâtre du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement provides a refined setting to experience these major compositions.
