Endymion is taking part in “Brahms Unwrapped” at Kings Place in just a few weeks, bringing their celebrated programme of the Brahms Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in A minor, Op.144 and the Horn trio in E flat, Op.40. We’re happily augmenting our regular short programme with both of his Clarinet Sonatas, Op.120.
The Horn Trio is by far the earliest work in the concert, written in 1865 after the death of Brahms’ mother. It’s full of childhood memories of woodland and countryside, as well as “a sense of enigma, turbulence, serenity, deep sorrow, exuberant joy,” according to our violinist Krysia Osostowicz.
Another frequent performer at Kings Place, Daniel Tong, joins us to perform the much later Clarinet Trio. Towards the end of his life, Brahms had pretty much decided to give up composing, but ended up exploring the potential of the clarinet as a chamber instrument like no one had since Mozart. A contemporary musicologist and friend of Brahms’ said his trio was “as though the instruments were in love with one another”. As well as the trio (from 1891), he wrote two Clarinet Sonatas in 1894, which are regarded as masterpieces for the instrument. At our concert, they’ll be performed by Mark van de Wiel with Daniel Lebhardt.
Tickets are on sale here. Kings Place has its £9.50 Internet Savers, and then tickets start from as little as £13.50. This concert really is full of Endymion’s core repertoire, and not to be missed!
