Vienna in the time of Brahms and Korngold is our focus, beginning with Brahms’ contribution to a sonata that was to be written by a committee of three friends. Erich Korngold stunned the world as a child prodigy and completed his brilliant piano quintet while still in his 20’s in his hometown of Vienna. Holding their own here are the two finest women composers of the 19th century: Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn. Fanny was said to be as talented as her brother Felix, but their father forbade her a career in music. Her remarkable string quartet reveals how talented she truly was.
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Scherzo from “FAE” Sonata
Simin Ganatra , violin
Michael Stephen Brown, piano
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Romances, op. 22
David Kim, violin
Michael Stephen Brown, piano
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847)
String Quartet in E flat major, H.277
Cindy Wu, Chili Eckman, violin
Pei-Ling Lin, viola
Brandon Vamos, cello
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957)
Piano Quintet, in E major, op.15
Pacifica Quartet:
Simin Ganatra, Austin Hartman, violin
Mark Holloway, viola
Brandon Vamos, cello
Michael Stephen Brown, piano