Magnard and Brahms Romantic Grandeur

Syddansk Musikkonservatorium, Esbjerg. Friday 14th August 2026 at 7.30 pm

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Magnard and Brahms Romantic Grandeur

Albéric Magnard (1865–1914): Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano in D minor, Op. 8
I. Modéré
II. Très vif
III. Lent
IV. Animé

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897): Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano in E-flat major, Op. 40
I. Andante
II. Scherzo: Allegro
III. Adagio mesto
IV. Finale: Allegro con brio

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

The fourteenth concert of Fanø Festival 2026 presents two extraordinary masterpieces that combine emotional depth, architectural strength, and lyrical beauty. Magnard and Brahms Romantic Grandeur brings together the rare and compelling voice of French composer Albéric Magnard with one of Johannes Brahms’s most beloved chamber works, revealing two composers who, despite their different backgrounds, shared a profound commitment to artistic integrity and expressive truth.

At the centre of the programme stands Albéric Magnard’s Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano in D minor, one of the great but seldom-heard masterpieces of French chamber music. Magnard occupies a unique place in French musical history. Sometimes referred to as the “French Bruckner”, he combined structural strength and seriousness of purpose with remarkable emotional warmth and individuality. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Magnard followed an independent artistic path, creating music of great integrity and personal conviction.

The Quintet, completed in 1894, reveals the full richness of his imagination. Written for an unusual combination of winds and piano, it unfolds on a symphonic scale while maintaining the intimacy of chamber music. Throughout the work, powerful dramatic episodes are balanced by moments of lyrical tenderness and refined instrumental colour. The result is music of exceptional breadth and emotional depth.

Magnard’s life ended in tragic circumstances at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. When German soldiers approached his estate, he attempted to defend his home and was killed in the ensuing confrontation. Many of his manuscripts were lost in the fire that followed. This dramatic story has often overshadowed his achievements as a composer, yet his surviving works reveal a musical voice of remarkable originality and nobility.

The second half of the programme is devoted to Johannes Brahms’s Horn Trio in E-flat major, Op. 40, one of the composer’s most personal and moving chamber works. Written in 1865 following the death of his mother, the trio combines profound reflection with radiant lyricism and warmth. The work occupies a unique place within Brahms’s output, not least because of its unusual scoring for violin, horn, and piano.

Rather than writing for the modern valved horn, Brahms conceived the work for the natural horn, whose distinctive sound evoked memories of the countryside and the horn calls of his youth. These associations lend the music a special atmosphere of nostalgia and remembrance. The deeply moving Adagio mesto stands among the most heartfelt slow movements Brahms ever composed, while the energetic finale transforms sorrow into affirmation and joy.

At the heart of Magnard and Brahms Romantic Grandeur lies a shared artistic spirit. Both composers sought to unite emotional sincerity with structural mastery. Both created music that speaks directly to the listener while maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship. Their works demonstrate that chamber music can be at once intimate and expansive, personal and universal.

Performed by an exceptional international ensemble featuring Kerstin Thiele, Ron Chen-Zion, David Daniel Dinu, Antti Salovaara, Valdemar Wenzel Most, Joke Wijma, and Sini Simonen, this concert offers a rare opportunity to encounter one of the hidden masterpieces of French chamber music alongside one of the most beloved works of the Romantic repertoire.

Presented at the Syddansk Musikkonservatorium (SDMK) in Esbjerg, Magnard and Brahms Romantic Grandeur promises an evening of discovery, beauty, and emotional depth. From Magnard’s powerful and unjustly neglected Quintet to Brahms’s timeless Horn Trio, audiences will experience music of exceptional richness, character, and humanity.

Venue: Syddansk Musikkonservatorium