

55
GEOFFROY COUTEAU
Frei aber
einsam
By the late 1860s, Brahms had been resident in Vienna for several years,
with a solid musical career and surrounded by equally firm friendships; his
mother had died, and Clara remained an object of love at once impossible
and sublime. He already had a substantial output behind him, but most of
the great compositions with orchestra, except for the First Piano Concerto
and
Ein deutsches Requiem
, were still to come.