Highlands University’s Department of Music will present an afternoon of romantic waltzes and lively gypsy songs when the Madrigal Choir performs Brahms In Love in Ilfeld Auditorium, Nov. 2, at 3 p.m.Directed by André García-Nuthmann with Linda King at the piano, the all-Brahms program includes vocal works, “Neue Liebeslieder Waltzes”, a portion of “Ein Deutches Requiem” and “Zigeunerlieder”. In addition, Linda King will solo in the “Piano Ballade in G. Minor”. Vocal soloists include Eliza Woodyard, Stephanie Salas, Devin Barad, Lisa Cisneros, Karliz de Marco, Joseph Chavez, John Loehr and Mike Hatlee. King, a familiar figure on the concert stages of Northern New Mexico, is presently the regular accompanist for the Madrigal Choir while teaching privately and performing as both soloist and in chamber ensembles around the state. The “Ballade in G Minor” she performs in Brahms in Love is fiery and dramatic, but very typical Brahms in character. The romantic Liebeslieder Waltzes and dramatic rhythms of the gypsy songs in the “Zigeunerlieder” are a departure from the serious, pure and traditional forms of music that Johannes Brahms preferred when composing. Brahms was born on May 7, 1833 in Hamburg, Germany, but settled in Vienna, Austria. His father, a horn player, gave him his first musical training, and he started piano lessons at age seven. Soon after, he began to learn the cello, but that ceased when the teacher absconded with his cello. A self-critical perfectionist, Brahms destroyed most of his early attempts at composition, but became one of the greatest and most influential composers of all time.Ticket prices are $10 for general public, $5 for NMHU faculty and staff and students are free with an ID.