In one of his novels, Jean Paul enthused: »I love the flute, the magic wand that changes the inner world whenever it touches it – a wish-rod in front of which the inner depths open up.« Our musicians present a small cosmos of works for flute and strings. Mozart wrote his charming flute quartet in 1777 on a commission from a music lover – although he was somewhat distracted because a young singer had made his head spin. Perhaps this is why the piece features an instrumental bravura aria, followed by a minor cantilena and a dance-like ending. It was said of Beethoven's chamber music that one »inevitably gets drawn into the master‘s magic circle, in which one sees more and more lines and figures that take hold of the soul so that one can't get rid of them again.« His C minor trio from 1798 shows fluttering states of mind: Sometimes it is melancholic, sometimes pathetic, then again reflective and suddenly whimsical. Since humour is just as much a balm for the soul, Haydn also liked to allow himself tongue-in-cheek experiments: In his magnificent divertimento of 1765, he celebrates birthdays musically. The Andante, explicitly entitled »Man and Woman«, is characterised by sighing figures in the high part and responses from the low register. Apart from that, the other instruments also join in the fun as children. Finally, a multifaceted composition by Jacques Castérède, who died in 2014: »Ombres et Clartes« captivates with touching melodies, is technically very challenging and revolves around changing moods – because as Tolstoy said: »All the variety, all the charm and all the beauty of life are formed by light and shadow.«

Chamber concert: Flute quartet

Bamberg Concert Hall

Remarkable leaps and bounds for the chamber music playing that our orchestra members love: Borodin was actually a full-time chemist and physician, but his passion for music constantly rekindled, including from 1859 in Heidelberg – where he composed his romantic string sextet in D minor. Some time later, he returned to Russia and the work was lost. It did not turn up for almost 100 years until it was finally discovered in an antiquarian bookshop. And it may still be missing something, as it consists of just two movements – one of which seems to shimmer like Mendelssohn’s »Midsummer Night’s Dream« and the other is laced with folk songs from Borodin's homeland. Dvořák’s sextet, premiered in 1879, also bubbles along folkloristically, which has to do with its chronological proximity to his famous »Slavonic Dances« and emphasises his image as a »Bohemian musician«. Although this was only one aspect of his multifaceted personality, Dvořák loved the cheerful and colourful environment around him, where people liked to celebrate festivals. His work quickly became one of the classics of the genre – and also inspired Schönberg to write his string sextet »Verklärte Nacht« in 1899. It is based on a poem by Richard Dehmel, saying: »There is a glow around everything, you drift with me across a cold sea, but a warmth of your own flickers from you into me, from me into you.« Schönberg found a poetic voice here that reflected his aesthetic stance – and an impressive love story that defied the moral standards of the time. He created a late romantic musical world for this – and the composition is one of his most popular pieces of chamber music today.

Minkyung Sul

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 27, 2025

Chamber concert: String sextet · Bamberger Symphoniker

Past events

Mar 5, 2024

Chamber concert: Flute quartet · Bamberger Symphoniker

Future and recently performed repertoire

Violin in String Trio in C minor by Beethoven

Bamberger Symphoniker

Violin in String Sextet by Dvořák

Bamberger Symphoniker

Violin in String Sextet in D minor by Borodin

Bamberger Symphoniker

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