Chamber Concert

Chamber music movements following Beethoven: This exciting concert begins with a work by George Onslow, who lived from 1784 to 1853. His admiration for the often daring audacity of his great contemporary was particularly evident in his imaginative chamber music, and this earned him the respectful title of the »French Beethoven«. His Quintet Op. 79b from 1849 is an ingenious composition not only because of its rather unorthodox instrumentation featuring a double bass, but also due to its tremendous verve and remarkable vibrancy. This is followed by Robert Schumann’s Phantasiestücke, Op. 88, a trio for strings and piano dating from his exceptionally productive chamber music year of 1842: It offers a charming collection of movements with contrasting characteristics – and in the lively »Humoresque«, a striking rhythmic phrase recalls the unconventional »Ghost Trio« by Beethoven, his great role model. The programme concludes with a piece by a composer who ranks among the forgotten Romantics of the 19th century: Hermann Goetz was born in Königsberg in 1840 and died of tuberculosis 150 years ago, shortly before his 36th birthday. He studied in Berlin under Hans von Bülow, who attested to his »happy compositional talent«. Stylistically, he was influenced by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms, the latter of whom was a friend. His quintet from 1874, which likewise features the double bass, was one of his last completed works – a deeply moving chamber music piece with a largely sombre atmosphere.