Ensemble ATL presents "Brahms (Re)constructed: The Serenade No. 1, op. 11 for Nonet
Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 | 7 PM | Kopleff Recital Hall

Ensemble ATL, directed by Robert J. Ambrose, presents an evening centered on a rarely heard chamber reconstruction of Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 11 by Johannes Brahms. Originally conceived in 1857 as an intimate work for nine musicians, the serenade reveals Brahms at a formative moment, experimenting with orchestral color, Classical forms, and expansive lyricism well before his first symphony.

Performed in a reconstructed nonet version for winds and strings, the six-movement serenade unfolds with warmth, elegance, and surprising emotional depth. Two contrasting scherzos frame a luminous Adagio, the expressive heart of the work, while the graceful minuet and buoyant rondo recall the serenade and divertimento traditions of Mozart and Haydn. Heard in this chamber setting, Brahms’ transparency of texture and melodic generosity come vividly into focus.

The program will include contextual remarks by Marie Sumner Lott, who will speak about the history of the work, its reconstruction, and what this version reveals about Brahms’ compositional process.

Comprised of professional musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Opera and Ballet orchestras, and leading freelance artists, Ensemble ATL is an ensemble in residence at Georgia State University, known for innovative programming and exceptional artistry.

Free and open to the public.