The MPO launches ChamberFest
ChamberFest – a unique Matinee celebration of exquisite chamber music, notably described as “the music of friends”. 3 separate recitals will be presented on Sunday 15th January at 10am, 11am and 12pm.
Featuring the MPO’s musicians in an exciting variety of informal chamber formations. ChamberFest will be held at the Robert Samut Hall – the orchestra’s home.
Tickets for the recitals can either be bought individually or purchased as a discounted Block Ticket for . Special Concessions are available for Students and Senior Citizens. Click on the buttons below to learn more about each individual recital or scroll down to read more!
The first recital will kick off ChamberFest with an eclectic presentation of repertoire for wind instruments. MPO Principal Flute Rebecca Hall opens the recital series with a sublime selection of works by François Devienne and Jacques Castérède for Four Flutes. A reed trio featuring Oboe, Basson and Clarinet will perform Georges Auric’s Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon and Mozart’s Divertimento No. 1 for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon. Originally composed for three basset horns, today this piece is often performed by ensembles containing a variety of woodwind instruments.
Bringing the first recital to a bright conclusion a horn quartet lead by MPO Principal Horn Etienne Cutajar will perform Kerry Turner’s Three Movements for Four Horns. Turner is a contemporary American composer and innovatively shares the prominence where all 4 horns share equal virtuosity. The Horn quartet will retain the contemporary mood with Zahra’s Six Variations for Horn Quartet, Illusions.
The second recital for the ChamberFest Mattinnee sets-off with a violin, clarinet and piano trio performing Stravinsky’s “Histoire du soldat”. Originally composed as a theatrical work “to be read, played, and danced”, the work expressively shows the Stravinsky’s ability to incorporate a wide range of influences into his own musical idiom.
The following part of the recital sheds light on Louis Spohr – an 18th century German Composer who is often overshadowed his contemporary peers like Niccolò Paganini. The Nonet written in concertante style for four string instruments and the five most wind instruments was intended to be performed in such a way “that each instrument would be heard in accordance with its essential character”.
The third and final recital for the morning brings ChamberFest to a close with two ecletic chamber formations with music from Vienna. A wind quartet and quintet will be performing two elegant works by Sussmayer and Krommer, exemplary concertos of the classical era.
Concluding on lighter notes by the most iconic Viennese composer, Mozart’s quintet for horns and strings. Mozart’s Horn Quintet is, like all his chamber music, utterly charming, engaging and perfectly constructed.
