Piano Quartets with Philharmonics

Mel Bonis’ Piano Quartet No. 2 is warm and sincere, passionate and dense – and charged with melodic beauty. And it is our good fortune now to get to hear this music. Like many female composers of the nineteenth century, she had trouble getting her work performed. But many of her male colleagues saw her gift and César Franck arranged for her to have a position at the Paris Conservatory, which was otherwise only attended by men at that time. 

This concert is performed by philharmonic members Anna Stefánsson on violin, Nadine Jurdzinski on viola and Hanna Dahlkvist on cello, together with pianist Darya Tchaikovsky.

Richard Strauss composed his Piano Quartet in C-Minor when he was 20 years old and this music is strongly influenced by Johannes Brahms. Despite being performed by a small ensemble, we hear Strauss’ musical personality shine through, with sharp contrasts and powerfully built-up sound.