“It is the best thing I have written in my life”, declared Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1784 of his piano quintet. Many of his most famous works had not yet been written, but the quintet remains a Mozartian jewel, with its melodic beauty and charming dialogues between the instruments. It is no wonder that the young Ludwig van Beethoven was inspired by Mozart’s example to write an equally enchanting quintet. Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker play both works with pianist Kit Armstrong. Contemporary counterpoints are provided in the form of wind quintets by Hans Werner Henze and Wolfgang Rihm.

EPSG:4326

Philharmonic chamber music Piano quintets by Mozart and Beethoven with Kit Armstrong

Berliner Philharmonie

The Philharmonic Octet is characterised by polyphonic dialogue between its individual voices; at the same time, the ensemble represents the distinctive sound of the Berliner Philharmoniker in micro format. The main work of this programme is Beethoven’s early Septet in E flat major – a work which would become one of the composer’s most popular during his lifetime. This music is rapturous and vivid, with moments of profound emotion. Beethoven wrote his First Symphony immediately afterwards, and his mature style is already evident. Also on the programme are Wolfgang Rihm’s Sextet for clarinet, horn and string quartet and arrangements of Schubert's Moments musicaux.

Stefan Schweigert

Events

Past events

Feb 11, 2025

Philharmonic chamber music Piano quintets by Mozart and Beethoven with Kit Armstrong · Berliner Philharmoniker

Jan 15, 2025

Orchestral chamber music Philharmonic Octet Berlin · Berliner Philharmoniker

Future and recently performed repertoire

Bassoon in Septet in E flat major by Beethoven

Berliner Philharmoniker

Bassoon in Sextett by Rihm

Berliner Philharmoniker

Bassoon in Wind Quintet by Rihm

Berliner Philharmoniker

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