On November 10, the Amici Ensemble (Joaquin Valdepeñas, clarinet; David Hetherington, cello; Serouj Kradjian, piano) and guests present a concert that pays tribute to Brahms. The program juxtaposes his music with that of Ernő Dohnányi.
Ernő Dohnányi had been a favoured student of Franz Liszt, but he found a great champion of his compositions in Johannes Brahms.
The program includes:
- Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Quintet
- Ernő Dohnányi: Piano Quintet
- Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dances: Cello-piano
Ernő Dohnányi and Brahms
Dohnányi was a 17 year old music student in July 1895. He’d just completed his first year at what was then known as the National Hungarian Royal Academy of Music (now known as the Franz Liszt Academy of Music).
One day, he got a postcard from Hans Koessler, his teacher in composition. Koessler was friends with Johannes Brahms, and both were vacationing in the same area. The letter told Dohnányi that Koessler had recounted the story of his examination concert, where the young composer’s piano quintet had been performed. Based on his story, Brahms had asked to see the manuscript, and when he saw it, was so impressed he asked to hear it in performance..
Dohnányi couldn’t travel to Bad Ischl, where Koessler and Brahms were staying, so Brahms arranged for a performance of the quintet by the Kneisel Quartet with conductor Arthur Nikisch.
Reportedly, Brahms told Koessler, “I could not have written it better myself.”
Brahms was influential in seeing the quintet performed in Vienna on November 25, 1895, with Dohnányi himself at the piano, and the Fitzner Quartet. It would be an important milestone in his career.
Guest Artists
Canadian Jonathan Crow is the Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and a favourite of Toronto audiences. After earning a Bachelor of Music in Honours Performance from McGill University, he joined the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) as Associate Principal Second Violin. Jonathan would go on to become the Concertmaster of the OSM, the youngest person to hold the position in a major North American orchestra at the time (2002).
He has been with the TSO since 2011, and would be named artistic director of the Toronto Summer Music festival from 2016 until 2024. He has performed with major orchestras and at festivals across North America and Europe.
Toronto violinist Luri Lee earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto, followed by her Master’s degree at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and an Artist Diploma Program at the Glenn Gould School. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2011, and has performed widely as both a soloist and chamber musician. Luri is a founding member of the multi-award winning Rolston String Quartet, the winner of Banff International String Quartet Competition, and currently plays with Toronto Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Second Violin, performing on a Carlo Tononi violin.
Hezekiah Leung began his musical career by studying violin at the University of Michigan. Switching to viola, he completed an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School, while winning several competitions. He is a founding member of the award-winning Rolston Quartet, and has performed on stages throughout North America and Europe. He is also devoted to music education, and teaches at various institutions such as the Curtis Institute of Music and Northwestern Bienen School of Music.
- Find more information and tickets to the November 10 concert [HERE].
Are you looking to promote an event? Have a news tip? Need to know the best events happening this weekend? Send us a note.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.
Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! — local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox HERE.
- PREVIEW | Latin American Christmas: Toronto Consort Celebrates The Season With Navidad - December 2, 2024
- PREVIEW | Opera Revue Brings You Bach-Humbug! A Holiday Opera Show for People Who Hate the Holidays - November 29, 2024
- PREVIEW | OPUS Chamber Music Returns With OPUS V: Change It UP On December 8 - November 28, 2024
