French Colours and Brahmsian Intimacy

Syddansk Musikkonservatorium, Esbjerg. Saturday 15th August 2026 at 4 pm

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 French Colours and Brahmsian Intimacy

André Caplet (1878–1925): Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano
I. Allegro moderato
II. Adagio
III. Scherzo
IV. Finale

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897): Eight Piano Pieces, Op. 76
I. Capriccio – Un poco agitato (F-sharp minor)
II. Capriccio – Allegretto non troppo (B minor)
III. Intermezzo – Grazioso (A-flat major)
IV. Intermezzo – Allegretto grazioso (B-flat major)
V. Capriccio – Agitato, ma non troppo presto (C-sharp minor)
VI. Intermezzo – Andante con moto (A major)
VII. Intermezzo – Moderato semplice (A minor)
VIII. Capriccio – Grazioso ed un poco vivace (C major)

Kerstin Theile, flute · David Daniel Dinu, oboe · Ron Chen-Zion, clarinet · Sofia Obando, bassoon  · Joke Wijma, horn · Valdemar Wenzel Most, piano

The fifteenth concert of Fanø Festival 2026 places the acclaimed young Danish pianist Valdemar Wenzel Most at the heart of a programme that explores two contrasting yet complementary musical worlds. French Colours and Brahmsian Intimacy brings together the refined elegance of André Caplet and the deeply personal piano writing of Johannes Brahms, revealing two composers whose music combines sophistication with emotional depth.

Widely recognised as one of Denmark’s most remarkable young pianists, Valdemar Wenzel Most has attracted attention for the poetry, maturity, and natural musicality of his playing. In this programme he appears both as chamber musician and soloist, moving effortlessly between the delicate ensemble textures of French chamber music and the introspective world of Brahms’s late piano style.

The concert opens with André Caplet’s Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano, one of the most refined works in the French chamber music repertoire. Caplet occupies a unique place in French musical life at the turn of the twentieth century. Winner of the prestigious Prix de Rome and a close friend and collaborator of Claude Debussy, he developed a musical language distinguished by its elegance, subtlety, and extraordinary sensitivity to instrumental colour.

In the Quintet, each instrument contributes a distinctive voice to an ever-changing palette of sound. The transparency of the wind writing, the luminous harmonies, and the refined interplay between the instruments create a world of constantly shifting colours and moods. Although often associated with French Impressionism, Caplet’s music combines atmospheric beauty with structural clarity and expressive warmth. The Quintet remains one of the finest examples of French chamber music from this remarkable period.

The second half of the programme is devoted to Brahms’s Eight Piano Pieces, Op. 76, a collection that marks an important turning point in the composer’s creative life. Written in 1878, these works stand between the expansive rhetoric of Brahms’s earlier music and the concentrated intimacy of his late piano pieces. Together they form a richly varied sequence of character pieces, alternating between dramatic Capriccios and deeply reflective Intermezzi.

Within these miniature forms Brahms achieves an astonishing range of expression. Moments of restless energy and passionate intensity are balanced by passages of profound tenderness and introspection. The pieces reveal a composer increasingly interested in subtle shades of feeling rather than outward virtuosity. Every gesture carries emotional significance, every phrase contributes to an intimate musical conversation between performer and listener.

At the centre of French Colours and Brahmsian Intimacy lies a fascinating contrast. Caplet explores sound through colour, texture, and atmosphere, creating delicate musical landscapes in which instruments blend and shimmer. Brahms, by contrast, turns inward, transforming the piano into a vehicle for deeply personal reflection. Yet both composers share a commitment to refinement, craftsmanship, and emotional honesty.

Presented in the intimate surroundings of Syddansk Musikkonservatorium (SDMK), this concert offers audiences an opportunity to experience chamber music and solo piano repertoire at the highest level. Through the artistry of Valdemar Wenzel Most and an outstanding ensemble of international musicians, listeners are invited into two richly rewarding musical worlds that continue to captivate audiences more than a century after their creation.

Venue: Syddansk Musikkonservatorium, Esbjerg