 Dessoff was, according to Styra Avins, "overjoyed at Brahms's veiled request," and on November 4, 1876 the premiere took place with Brahms in attendance at the rehearsals and concert.In 1880, Dessoff was appointed to the newly created position of "First Kapellmeister" (Ersten Kapellmeisters) at the Frankfurt Opera; he inaugurated the newly completed opera house (now known as the Alte Oper) on 20 October 1880 with a performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni.Dessoff's close friendship with Brahms can be seen in an exchange of letters between the two in 1878 when Dessoff wished to dedicate what is probably his best known work, his String Quartet in F, Op.