Boulanger, Mozart, Brahms & afterparty

By age six, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was composing and performing for royalty — yet he never let go of his mischievous and humouristic side. Despite his fame, he often struggled financially, spending lavishly and gambling, all while still producing some of the most enduring masterpieces in history. 

His Clarinet Quintet is a perfect example of his cheekiness paired with elegance. Scored for clarinet, two violins, viola, and cello, it highlights the clarinet’s warm, lyrical voice, blending seamlessly with the strings. Across four movements, Mozart balances elegance, wit, and expressive depth — from the playful Allegro to the voice-like Larghetto. Every note feels perfectly placed, and knowing Mozart’s cheeky personality makes the music sparkle even more.

Closing the festival, we present Brahms’s Piano Quintet in F Minor, a Romantic masterpiece completed in 1864. Scored for piano and string quartet, it balances intensity, lyricism, and intricate dialogue between the instruments. Across four movements, the music moves from stormy, dramatic passages to tender, singing melodies, with the piano fully integrated — giving it true main-character energy.

Brahms was a perfectionist: he destroyed works he deemed imperfect, including a piano quartet that was only reconstructed decades later. You might not think so, if you have heard Brahms’ compositions, but the composer was shy – often hiding behind a music stand during rehearsals. This work is anything but. 

After this concert – we would like to invite everyone to join us at our Afterparty. After last year's success, it's definitely something we had to bring back this year. See you ;-)