Mendelssohn’s masterpiece is thrilling under David Perry’s leadership. Young Mendelssohn’s friendship with the elderly Goethe inspired this romantic triumph. It is paired with an equally impressive discovery, the Octet by Woldemar Bargiel, the brother-in-law of Clara Schumann and a composer much admired by Brahms. Be prepared … the electricity will... [Read More]

Join us to toast French independence. Each of our three works represents a different vision of France, so we are going to sample different French wines that complement their paired musical work. D’Indy brings us a French postcard painted by harp, flute, and strings. Bordes uses flute (played by Heather... [Read More]

When Brahms wrote his second string quintet, he thought it was a perfect way to end his career (he later was coaxed into creating a few more by a wonderful clarinetist). It is powerful, charming, intense, light-hearted, and – especially in its Hungarian flavored finale – exuberant. When someone suggested... [Read More]

Immediately before he wrote his First Symphony, Beethoven wrote this Septet as a prototype or practice run. He was so ready for the nine symphonies that followed that this Septet became his most popular piece during his lifetime. You could almost call it his Tenth Symphony. Thrill to the full... [Read More]