Chamber Music

Dvořák and Bernstein

Stefan Dohr is a living legend. The principal horn player of the Berlin Philharmonic is considered one of the best in the world, if not the best horn player of the present time. Together with the brass players of our orchestra, he opens up a whole musical world, ranging from the brass serenades of Antonín Dvořák and Richard Strauss to Bernstein's "West Side Story" and the famous fanfare by Aaron Copland, composed in 1942 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, which still stands for the strength and unwavering spirit of the "ordinary person." This exclamation also has a response! It comes from Joan Tower, whose "Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman" also comes from the American music tradition and highlights the extraordinary role of women - powerful, yet in their own way.

Collenbusch with Brahms

British chamber music paired with a masterpiece of German Romanticism - in this concert, we bring together unjustly unknown pieces with rightfully famous ones. Brahms' Piano Quintet in F minor is part of the musical heritage, like Beethoven's symphonies, and is just as popular today as classics like the Fifth Symphony. On the other hand, Arnold Bax, the British composer born in 1883, was a star in his homeland during his lifetime but later almost fell into obscurity. He was never quite well-known here. However, he has written beautiful music! His First String Quartet is full of romantic melodies and captivates listeners immediately. Our Composer in Residence, James MacMillan, contributes another work from the island with his Second String Quartet, which even music critics rave about, describing it as a "captivating, powerful masterpiece" that captivates narratively and emotionally.

Guest performance 11th International Accordion Festival

Jewish Chamber Orchestra Hamburg

The Jewish spring festival of Passover is not only a religious festival, but above all a cultural event that celebrates renewal and freedom. In keeping with this, the Jewish Chamber Orchestra Hamburg (JCOHH) is opening its new concert series »BÜSCHEN MESCHUGGE« under the motto »Hope. Blossom. A new beginning.«

Bennewitz Quartet / Veronika Hagen

They have only just celebrated their 25th anniversary – and are still going, stronger than ever. The Bennewitz Quartet, made up of four gentlemen from the Czech Republic, has established a superb reputation in the quarter of a century it has been performing. Its members are regarded as the cultural ambassadors of their homeland, revered for their warm, homogeneous sound. Now they have invited Veronika Hagen, violist in the legendary Hagen Quartet, to expand their line-up into a quintet. Their concert promises a programme full of contrasts, fluctuating between idylls of nature, the innate lifeforce, and moments of farewell. Antonín Dvořák spent his first summer in the USA not amid the hustle and bustle of New York City, where he ran the conservatory, but surrounded by the tranquillity of Iowa. A Czech community had formed in the small town of Spitville and they invited the composer to stay with them. He must have heard not only the sounds of the »New World«, but also plenty of familiar Bohemian music. At its premiere the following winter, his quintet even transported New Yorkers to this rural summer idyll, and proved an instant success. »Our will for culture was just as great as our will to exist!« wrote the Polish-Austrian composer Viktor Ullmann, recounting his time in the Theresienstadt ghetto. His third string quartet was composed there: gripping music full of a desire to survive. Johannes Brahms, by contrast, wrote his string quintet as a farewell to composing and perhaps even to life itself. Though he would go on to compose other works, his quintet is full of gentle melancholy, a look back over Brahms’ legacy.

Die Königsklasse der Kammermusik

New friday with string quartet and didgeridoo

For the first time in Konserthuset, we get to hear music composed for the ancient Australian wind instrument, the didgeridoo. Both in a newly written piece for strings, didgeridoo, and oboe d'amore by Loke Risberg, and in the intensely vibrant sixteenth string quartet by Australian Peter Sculthorpe, where the instrument complements the four strings. Playing the didgeridoo, we have Björn Bohlin, a multi-instrumentalist who previously played English horn in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.Gabriella Smith's Carrot Revolution is a tribute to the ability to find new ways to approach older artistic forms and expressions. "The piece is a patchwork of my very contrasting influences," she says.The concert begins with Ghiribizzi for violin and cello by the Moldovan-Austrian composer and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja. On her series of curiously explorative "ghiribizzi," she says: "It's not a tribute to Paganini, but I borrowed the title from his peculiar pieces for violin and guitar." Ghiribizz roughly translates to whims, quirks."***New Friday is the series for anyone who is curious and interested in exploring the new music of our era. Come early, stay late – the bar will be open before and after the concert with drinks and appetizers.

Jansen and Kozhukhin

With her dazzling technique and natural stage presence, Dutch violinist Janine Jansen has long been among the top tier of international star violinists. Pianist Denis Kozhukhin also combines outstanding technique with mature musicality and an ability to establish a close connection with the audience. They have both previously visited Konserhuset, individually and together.During their acclaimed visit in 2022, they performed, among other pieces, Brahms' third violin sonata. Now, we hear the first two: the "rain sonata," so named because its finale includes a quote from Brahms' own song "Regenlied," and the second, named "Thun" after the town in Switzerland where Brahms spent time when he composed it. There, he was inspired by the beautiful surroundings. "There are so many melodies here that one must be careful not to trample on any of them," he expressed it.Before Ravel's concluding violin sonata with its famous blues movement, we hear Eugène Ysaÿe's sensually dark-toned Poème élégiaque, a milestone in the violin repertoire, and Olivier Messiaen's Thème et variations, which in character resembles his most performed work, Quartet for the End of Time.

Vogler Quartett

Individuality finding harmonious expression in an ensemble – this is the quintessence of the Vogler Quartet, which has been pursuing a unique global career with an unchanged line-up since its formation in 1985. With an intelligent approach to chamber music, outstanding playing technique and interpretive sensitivity, Tim Vogler, Frank Reinecke, Stefan Fehlandt and Stephan Forck have created an unmistakable string quartet sound which consistently offers new insights into the genre. The group has had a concert series at the Konzerthaus Berlin since 1993.

Guitar Series: Petra Poláčková

For lovers of chamber music the Recital Hall is the venue of choice. You can hear the musicians breathe and you can practically touch them. This hall is also cherished by musicians for its beautiful acoustics and direct contact with the audience. In the Recital Hall you can hear the best musicians of our time. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Recital Hall for yourself!

Fauré!

Sebastian Breuninger, Julius Bekesch, Chaim Steller & Chirstian Giger

Pianist Series: Jorge Luis Prats

The Concertgebouw’s famous Main Hall is one of the best concert halls in the world, well-known for its exceptional acoustics and special atmosphere. In the Main Hall, you will feel history. Here, Gustav Mahler conducted his own compositions, as did Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky. Sergei Rachmaninoff played his own piano concertos in the Main Hall. This is also where musicians such as Leonard Bernstein, Vladimir Horowitz and Yehudi Menuhin gave legendary performances. Right up to now, the Main Hall offers a stage to the world’s best orchestras and musicians. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Main Hall for yourself!

Ensemble Finale presents 'A Celebration of Jewish Music'

Mendelssohn-Quartett Leipzig

Next Generation II Kammerkonzert 7

Musicians of the Komische Oper Berlin present intensive listening experiences in special locations as part of their chamber concerts. From the festive ambience of the Schiller Theater to the monumental vastness of the old hangar at Tempelhof Airport, with new sound worlds at the Kindl site to enchanting experiences in a tent.

Portico Quartet Ensemble

Since its emergence in the mid-2000s, the ever-evolving Portico Quartet has established itself at the forefront of London’s thrilling new jazz scene. Here the group presents an ‘augmented’ live version of its stunning minimalist, ambient-oriented album Terrain.

Mariani Klavierquartett

The Mariani Piano Quartet, composed of renowned musicians, performs three piano quartets. They rediscovered Gernsheim's romantic work, banned by the Nazis. Martinů's energetic quartet, composed in exile, and Dvořák's work complete the program. A 7-minute discussion highlights interesting aspects. The concert will be recorded and broadcast.

Free Lunchtime Concert: Sweelinck Academy

For many years now, Lunchtime Concerts have been held in the Main Hall and the Recital Hall. The concerts range from public rehearsals by the Concertgebouworkest, to chamber music performances by young up-and-coming artists.For Lunchtime Concerts you will require a free ticket, which you can buy online. Doors to the concert hall open about 30 minutes before the Lunchtime Concert starts.We offer a broad range of music: the majority of concerts include classical music, but you can sometimes hear more modern repertoire. The concert programme is announced one week in advance on our website. The concerts last thirty minutes and are free of charge. Visitors are advised that these concerts are suitable for children from six years old.

Amaryllis Quartett / Sebastian Manz

The sounds of nature and the voices of birds have inspired many composers. The musical journey of this concert ranges from classical to impressionistic and romantic sounds. In the clarinet quintet, the Amaryllis Quartet and the solo clarinettist of the SWR Symphony Orchestra, Sebastian Manz, embark together on the already transcendent sounds of Brahms’ late work.

Chamber concert: String quartet

A concert with impressive string quartets – because our orchestra members love to regularly step out of the big orchestra apparatus and work intensively on works close to their hearts as chamber musicians. And the first one is a real piece of work, according to contemporaries even »as incomprehensible as Chinese«, to which the composer rumbled the words »Cattle! Donkeys!«: Beethoven’s magnificent fugue op. 133 – a highly unique late work from 1825 that goes to the limits of what was possible, with monumental architectural structures and, despite some friendly tunes, with enormous inner tensions. One of the pieces to be rediscovered in this programme comes from the beloved homeland of our concertmaster: Ilian Garnetz grew up in a creative environment – and was awarded the title of »Artist of the Moldavian People« as a music mediator and representative of his country. Now, together with his fellow musicians, he would like to introduce the Bamberg audience to the fourth string quartet by his former violin professor and composer Boris Dubosarschi. It was influenced by the work of Shostakovich – with which the concert ends on a stirring note: His string quartet No. 8 was composed in 1960, during which he reflected on the destruction of the city of Dresden during the war in 1945. It expresses his shock at this and was published »in memory of the victims« of that time. However, Shostakovich felt that this subjective work of confession with its own quotations from his pieces could also be dedicated to his own commemoration – and also mentioned that it was »of such a pseudo-tragic nature that I shed many tears while composing it.«

Rising Stars: Carlos Ferreira

For lovers of chamber music the Recital Hall is the venue of choice. You can hear the musicians breathe and you can practically touch them. This hall is also cherished by musicians for its beautiful acoustics and direct contact with the audience. In the Recital Hall you can hear the best musicians of our time. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Recital Hall for yourself!

Chamber concert Theater im Delphi

Hana Blažíková / Bruce Dickey / The Breathtaking Collective Ensemble

Angels playing music were an extremely popular motif in the Renaissance – often, the heavenly figures sing accompanied by the cornet, an early brass instrument. Cornet virtuoso Bruce Dickey and soprano Hana Blažíková now trace the celestial tonal affinity of voice and instrument, accompanied by the Breathtaking Collective, with such enchantingly beautiful and highly virtuoso music of the 17th century. Bruce Dickey has completely dedicated himself to rediscovering the cornet. Today, largely disappeared from concert life, the wooden, in most cases crescent-shaped, instrument with a mouthpiece similar to those on trumpets was incredibly popular in the 16th and 17th century, especially in combination with singing. Like a second voice, the cornet ornaments the clear soprano of early music star Hana Blažíková, gets into sensitive dialogue and vies for the most splendid coloraturas and flourishes. The singer and cornetist, both of whom are regularly on stage with the greats of historical performance practice, such as Sir John Elliot Gardiner, Ton Koopman and Jordi Savall, have put together a fascinating selection of secular and sacred pieces for »On the Breath of Angels«. Accompanied by strings, theorbo, organ and harpsichord, dramatic operatic arias and intimate movements from motets sound. »Breathtaking listening experiences!« enthuses a reviewer of the related album. After this concert, one wonders how and why the cornet could have fallen so much out of fashion.

Masterpieces Unboxed: Schubert's 'Death and The Maiden'

For lovers of chamber music the Recital Hall is the venue of choice. You can hear the musicians breathe and you can practically touch them. This hall is also cherished by musicians for its beautiful acoustics and direct contact with the audience. In the Recital Hall you can hear the best musicians of our time. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Recital Hall for yourself!

Soup with piano trio

Bo-Gustaf Thorell has been a member of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra's first violin section for over 40 years. Now, he takes the stage forming a trio together with his son, Daniel Thorell – a soloist diploma graduate from the Norwegian Academy of Music under Torleif Thedéen and winner of numerous national and international competitions – and Royal Stockholm Philharmonic pianist Stefan Lindgren.Johannes Brahms' first piano trio has almost symphonic proportions. After critical comments from Clara Schumann, Brahms' great and unfortunate love, this trio was almost consigned to the flames. Luckily, the self-critical Brahms revised the music instead, several decades after its first publication, and it is that version that we hear here.Laura Netzel's (1839–1927) romantic music gained great attention during the 19th century, especially in France where she had studied under the famous Charles-Marie Widor. In the early 20th century, she was one of Sweden's most successful composers internationally and broke new ground with her piano concerto. Now, we hear her warmly lyrical and romantic Serenade for piano trio.***Menu: Cauliflower soup with roasted pine nuts. The soup is served with sourdough bread, crispbread, butter, mineral water/light beer, coffee/tea, and a chocolate piece. Wine and beer available for purchase for those who wish.All soups are lactose- and gluten-free. Please inform us of any dietary requirements when booking.

Mozart Pass Gringolts Quartet. Lily Francis Alle Mozart-Streichquintette I-III

For Mozart connoisseurs, it's clear: his most significant chamber music works aren't his 23 string quartets, but his six string quintets. These quintets reached an unmatched peak, admired even by later composers like Schubert and Brahms. The Gringolts Quartet, joined by violist Lily Francis, performs these works in three consecutive historically informed concerts, using gut strings tuned to 440 Hz. Pre-concert talks are available. This event offers a pass for all three concerts with a discount.

Gringolts Quartet. Lily Francis Alle Mozart-Streichquintette I

Musicologist Martin Geck praised Mozart's string quintets, noting how a second viola opens a new world of chamber music. Mozart's first quintet, KV 174, was composed in Salzburg in 1773, crowning his early chamber music creations. His C-major Quintet KV 515, written 14 years later, is his longest four-movement instrumental piece. It's a bright work that reflects “Figaro” and anticipates the “Jupiter” Symphony. A pre-concert talk with Marcus Imbsweiler takes place at 2:30 pm in the Old University Auditorium.

Gringolts Quartet. Lily Francis Alle Mozart-Streichquintette II

In April 1788, Mozart advertised three new quintets in the Wiener Zeitung. Among them was the wind serenade KV 388, adapted for string quintet, alongside KV 515 and KV 516. This work, KV 388, is not a light-hearted piece, but a serious "Nachtmusique". The G minor quintet also carries intense emotions and tension. However, it concludes with a lively final rondo. A pre-concert talk will be given by Marcus Imbsweiler.

An absolute work / The Goldberg Variations

The Goldberg Variations are described as an absolute work of art. The commission is said to have come from count Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk, suffering from insomnia during his time at the Viennese court. The piece was intended to be performed by the very young harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, a musician of the count’s own court, whose playing helped the aristocrat while away the sleepless hours. The composer found variations to be the best form for night-time music-making. And that was how the aria with thirty variations, which over time became a synonym for musical innovativeness, came to be. The work Bach created is eclectic in its every aspect, showing a skillful use of various musical elements, such as counterpoint, virtuosity, and musical rhetoric. The leitmotif, however, is not the melody of the aria, but… the bass line! What is more, the composer created a work of unbelievable singability, which can be heard in the entirety of the cycle. There is no other keyboard composition of Bach’s that adheres to the idea of the cantilena – a singable and smooth melody, highly engaging for the listener – to such an extent. The Goldberg Variations stood the test of time and continue to delight listeners. Their influence on further generations of composers and the development of pianistics cannot be overstated. Centuries after the work’s creation, numerous renowned artists, such as Glenn Gould, proposed interpretations as controversial as they were groundbreaking, often crossing the borders laid out by the composer, perceiving the piece not only as a technical challenge, but predominantly as a source of deep musical knowledge. The contemporary grand piano performances represent another innovative trend, which constitutes a significant departure from the composer’s original imagination and concept. While the piano is indeed different from the harpsichord, it does, however, enable even more depth and complexity to be found in the masterpiece, thus showing the richness of its sound and the unsurpassed skill of its composition in all their glory. [Alexandra Kozowicz]Concert duration: approximately 90 minutes

Rising Stars / Matilda Lloyd - Simon Lepper

Rising trumpet star Matilda Lloyd presents a delightful panorama of works and transcriptions—featuring Debussy, Fauré and Ibert alongside the likes of Bozza, one of the most prolific composers for of music for wind instruments.