Pianist

Siegfried Rivinius normally sits at the podium of the first violins with the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, where he has been first concertmaster since 1985. In addition to the large symphonic repertoire, he also has a strong passion for the intimate form of chamber music. And so in 1995 he founded the RIVINIUS Piano QUARTET together with his brothers. The four have now put together an exciting program for the last chamber concert of the season. It begins with the first piano quartet by Camille Saint-Saëns, which he composed when he was just 18 years old but never published during his lifetime. Stephen Hartke follows, a composer who is even personally known to the quartet. His five tableaux from “The King of the Sun” refer to paintings by the well-known painter Joan Miró. The finale is the expansive Piano Quartet in E major by Paul Scheinpflug, who is also no stranger here in Duisburg: almost exactly 100 years ago he was the orchestra's General Music Director. The concert is therefore also an examination of Duisburg's music history, as is also the case in the 11th and 12th Philharmonic Concerts.

RIVINIUS Piano QUARTET

Philharmonie Mercatorhalle

Chamber music by a Hungarian composer who remains underappreciated to this day. Unlike Bartók and Kodály, Dohnányi remained committed to Romanticism throughout his life. His sonorous Piano Quintet and Sextet captivate with their inventiveness. They are a discovery, as is the uniquely scored Trio by the German Romantic composer Reinecke. Dohnányi was a pianist, conductor, and composer, and in his youth, as a celebrated soloist, he was compared to Franz Liszt. He therefore had a particularly fortunate touch when it came to piano chamber music, as can be experienced in this concert. As a composer, Dohnányi saw himself firmly in the tradition of Brahms. His late Sextet, however, transcends the world of Brahms and simultaneously revels in the broad stylistic panorama of the 1930s.

Piano Romanticism

Hessischer Rundfunk

After Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy left his parents' house in Berlin in 1829, his sister Fanny, who was married to the court painter Wilhelm Hensel, took over the management of the salon with the famous Sunday music. This was the only place where music lovers could experience her compositions, as her ambitions were not approved by her family for a long time. It was not until 1846 that Felix gave his blessing for the publication of his sister's compositions. Her last major work was the Piano Trio in D minor from 1847. Fanny's talent as a composer remained unnoticed for a long time - it was not until the turn of the 21st century that her work was systematically examined for musical practice.

6th Chamber Evening

Semperoper Dresden

After Felix Mendelssohn left his parental home in Berlin in 1829, his sister Fanny, who was married to the court painter Wilhelm Hensel, took over the organisation of the family’s salon with its famous Sunday concerts. This was the only place where music lovers could hear her compositions, as for many years her professional ambitions were thwarted by her family. It was not until 1846 that Felix gave his blessing for his sister’s music to be published. Her last major work is the Piano Trio in D minor from 1847. Until recently, Fanny’s compositional talents remained more or less forgotten. Indeed, it was only at the very end of the 20th century that her work was systematically reviewed and edited for public performance.

6th Chamber Music Evening Concert

Please note the program change: Antonín Dvořák's Quartet and Quintet: Musicians of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra will devote themselves to Dvořák's piano music in a chamber concert in the Rolf Liebermann Studio on February 24th.

EPSG:4326

Chamber music by Dvořák

 Rolf-Liebermann-Studio

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

»Music of human breath, it creates a world of its own, conjured up by the sorcerous forces of sounds which, summoned by an imagination rich in visions, enter and pass through our earthly bodies all the way to the soul.« (Henri Sauguet) Our chamber concert offers delightful pieces for flute and bassoon: Vivaldi‘s trio sonata in A minor is a magnificent composition full of intricate sound cascades, but also of introspective moments with expansive cantilenas. The chamber trio in F major, also baroque, was composed by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, who lived from 1663 to 1712 and came from a Leipzig family of town pipers: the melodic roles of flute and bassoon interact intensively on the harmonic foundation of the continuo – with expressive upswings and dynamic outbursts of virtuosity. Beethoven‘s trio is a precious early work from his Bonn days – where he confided to the Kurfürst about his early preoccupation with composing, that his muse whispered: »Just try it and jot down some of your soul‘s harmonies!« The piece was probably written around 1786 as chamber music for private use – and the passionate love for the daughter of a count‘s family might have been the impetus for the lush sounds that are interspersed throughout the otherwise very concerto-like progress of the work. Finally, Weber‘s enchanting G minor trio from 1819, when the composer was ill and obviously dealt with his mental suffering with music: the highly romantic composition is thus characterised in parts by deep melancholy, in particular in the pivotal Andante, which bears the title »Shepherd's Lament« – yet it captivates the listener with a very playful character in the framing movements.

Chamber Concert: Baroque music

Bamberg Concert Hall

»Dance is the art that moves the human soul the most«. This is already what Plato was convinced of – and our chamber concert offers captivating sounds to support this. We'll dive right into the musical heart of Argentina and with it the diversity and depth of a genre about which it was once said: »The tango – that is two serious faces and four feet enjoying themselves.« It was Astor Piazzolla who turned the initially infamous dance of his homeland into »perfumed chamber music« for the concert hall, saying: »My music is for reflection and happiness.« Other Argentine composers have also dedicated themselves to this typical spirit in their works – for the tango stands for a rollercoaster of emotions: it is not only a celebration of colours and rhythms, but often full of sadness and melancholy. The effect of sensual expression and passionate energy was accentuated by the famous tango teacher Ricardo Vidort in just as philosophical words as Plato: »The tango is a therapy that liberates the soul!«

Tango Late Night

»Dance is the art that moves the human soul the most«. This is already what Plato was convinced of – and our chamber concert offers captivating sounds to support this. First, our musicians will feel the pulse from our Bohemian roots with a popular work: Dvořák was regarded as a musician who liked to play for the dance – he was also seen as an artist about which no-one could argue. His quintet op. 81, first performed in Prague in 1888, is a wonderful testament to this. It was composed during a happy period in his life and, according to an anecdote, by coincidence: Dvořák was digging for his first piano quintet op. 5, but couldn't find it and instead of searching much longer, he simply composed a new one – a supremely folkloric work for just five instruments as a burst of symphonic dimension. Then it‘s off right into the musical heart of Argentina and with it the diversity and depth of a genre about which it was once said: »The tango – that is two serious faces and four feet enjoying themselves.« It was Astor Piazzolla who turned the initially infamous dance of his homeland into »perfumed chamber music« for the concert hall, saying: »My music is for reflection and happiness.« Other Argentine composers have also dedicated themselves to this typical spirit in their works – for the tango stands for a rollercoaster of emotions: it is not only a celebration of colours and rhythms, but often full of sadness and melancholy. The effect of sensual expression and passionate energy was accentuated by the famous tango teacher Ricardo Vidort in just as philosophical words as Plato: »The tango is a therapy that liberates the soul!«

Chamber Concert: Argentine Tango

Profound

Künstlerhaus am Lenbachplatz

As a quartet with a difference, the Mozart Piano Quartet celebrates its 25th anniversary in Blaibach with key works of the genre and a new piece written for the quartet by Aziza Sadikova. Experience the history and present of the piano quartet up close.

Pianist

Paul Rivinius

Events

Upcoming events

Mar 15, 2026

Profound · Munich Philharmonic

Apr 17, 2026

Mozart Piano Quartet · Konzerthaus Blaibach

Past events

Jun 29, 2025

RIVINIUS Piano QUARTET · Duisburger Philharmoniker

Jun 15, 2025

Piano Romanticism · Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

Future and recently performed repertoire

Piano in Piano Quintet No. 2 by Dvořák

Bamberger Symphoniker

Piano in Piano Quartet No. 1 by Dvořák

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester

Piano in Piano Quintet in C minor by Williams

Munich Philharmonic

Piano in Piano Trio in D minor by Mendelssohn-Hensel

Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

Piano in Trio for Piano, Flute and Bassoon by Beethoven

Bamberger Symphoniker

Piano in Piano Quintet No. 1 by Farrenc

Munich Philharmonic

Piano in Piano Quartet in E-flat major by Schumann

Konzerthaus Blaibach

Piano in Trio for Piano, Flute and Cello by Weber

Bamberger Symphoniker

Piano in Trio Sonata in F Major by Zachow

Bamberger Symphoniker

Piano in Sextet by Dohnányi

Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

Piano in Trio for Piano, Clarinet, and Horn by Reinecke

Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

Piano in Brentano's Dialogue by Sadikova

Konzerthaus Blaibach

Piano in Piano Quartet in G minor by Brahms

Konzerthaus Blaibach

Piano in Piano Quintet No. 1 by Dohnányi

Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

About

Paul Rivinius hasn't added a bio