Wednesday 8 January 2025 7:30pm

Mozart  –  Horn Quintet in E flat major, K407 (arr. for horn trio)
Clara Schumann  –  Three Romances for violin and piano, op 22
Mendelssohn  – Lieder ohne worte, op 62 no. 1
Brahms  –  Intermezzo in E flat major, op 117 no. 1
Huw Watkins  –  Trio for horn and piano
Brahms  –  Trio for horn, violin and piano in E flat major, op 40

Ben Goldscheider is a leading young British horn player – a BBC Young Musician concerto finalist in 2016, he studied in Berlin and is principal horn of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Also devoted to chamber music Ben is joined for this concert by Benjamin Baker, New Zealand-born violinist, and the Welsh pianist and composer, Huw Watkins. Music for this combination of instruments was initiated by Brahms in the work which completes our programme – written after the death of his mother – and which maps the stages of grief while not forgetting the happy memories expressed in a scherzo.

Mozart wrote his Horn quintet for the horn virtuoso and cheesemonger, Josef Leutgeb, and it is full of gentle amiable music, a mini horn concerto, and played here in a trio version. Inspired by performing the Brahms Trio, Huw Watkins work is in one movement and alternates driving rhythmic passages with slower, contemplative music. In between we hear the three romances written for Joachim by Clara Schumann, a friend central to Brahms’ emotional life.