PLEASE BE AWARE THIS IS AN AFTERNOON CONCERT

Tim Hugh (cello), Kirsten Jensen (cello), Katerina Nazarova (violin), Ting-ru Lai (violin), Eivind Ringstad % Carol Ella (viola)

Schubert – String Quintet in C major, D956

Interval

Brahms – String sextet No1 in B flat major, Op 18

This afternoon’s programme features two towering masterpieces of 19th-century chamber music: Schubert’s String Quintet in C major, D. 956, and Brahms’ String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 18. Both works offer expansive, emotionally resonant sound worlds, highlighting the expressive potential of string ensembles.

Schubert’s Quintet in C major, completed just two months before his death in 1828, is widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in chamber music. Scored unusually for two cellos instead of two violas, the work gains a rich, sonorous depth and a poignant, otherworldly quality. Its opening movement combines lyrical serenity with dramatic tension, while the Adagio is a profound meditation on stillness and vulnerability. The scherzo offers exuberant contrast, only to be shadowed by a mysterious trio. The finale moves between rustic dance and haunting reflection, ending the work with both resolution and ambiguity.

Brahms’ String Sextet No. 1, written in 1860 when he was in his twenties, displays a youthful warmth and Romantic richness. The addition of two violas lends a mellow depth to the ensemble’s texture. The opening movement is spacious and lyrical, unfolding with characteristic Brahmsian warmth. The second movement, a theme and variations, showcases the composer’s ingenuity, followed by a graceful scherzo and an exuberant finale. It’s a work that balances structural clarity with emotional expressiveness.

Together, these pieces form a compelling contrast: Schubert’s late, transcendent introspection paired with Brahms’ early, heartfelt Romanticism—both offering an unforgettable exploration of the string ensemble’s expressive range.