Program Notes --London Calling
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Academic Festival Overture, op. 80 Johannes Brahms was not an academic but was offered several honourary degrees over his career. In 1879 the University of Breslau, Germany, offered him a Doctorate in Music. He sent them a thank you card for the honour. A friend suggested that a musical response would be a better response and so Brahms wrote the Academic Festival Overture. Brahms conducted this musical picture of student life, himself in Breslau to