Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn

Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn is an absolutely outstanding set of variations which I love to study. You can pick up a lot of tips on orchestration from it. Also it is very good for beginning conductors (i.e. me) to work with. Has anyone else heard or studied it?

Yes, I have heard of it and listened to it. To be honest, I don't like the variations, but the theme is wonderful. . . I am sorry to say, but I don't like Brahms. The question I have been trying to answer for more than a year is why.

Brahms' music sounds unnatural to me, although I realize how talented he was. I have the same with R. Schumann. Maybe it's the fact that the music still sounds classical, but both composers are experimenting with the forms and rules stated in the classicism.

You need to be good at conducting subdivisions without much thought. This piece will test your ability to emote while moving frequently between rigid time and fluidity. i haven't conducted this piece, but a look at the score makes it a decent candidate for beginners, with the exception of a few variations.
That said, I don't really like the piece all that much (or Brahms a lot, in general), but its merit is, in my opinion, definitely not orchestration, but rather motivic manipulation. Just my two cents, though.

Variation Number 5 is tricky to conduct, as well as number 8. And I understand why ya'll aren't you huge fans. I wasn't either at first. The Finale - last variation- is my favorite part.