Syddansk Musikkonservatorium, Esbjerg. Saturday 22nd August 2026 at 4 pm

SINGLE TICKETS

All-inclusive Festival Ticket KR. 700,-

Mediterranean Fire, Guitar Virtuosity and Brahmsian Grandeur

DR Concert

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895–1968): Ecloghe, Op. 206 for Flute, English Horn and Guitar
I. Andantino quieto
II. Allegro con spirito (Tempo di Saltarello)
III. Lento – Elegiaco
IV. Allegretto vivace con spirito

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895–1968): Capriccio Diabolico, Op. 85 for Solo Guitar

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897): Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26
I. Allegro non troppo
II. Poco adagio
III. Scherzo: Poco allegro
IV. Allegro

Kerstin Theile, flute · David Daniel Dinu,English horn  · Jonas Egholm, guitar · Juliette Roos, violin · Valdemar Wenzel Most, piano ·Joel Bardolet, violin · Michel Camille, viola · Pau Codina, cello 

Recorded by Danish National Radio (DR)

The penultimate concert of EICMF 2026 (Esbjerg International Chamber Music Festival) brings together Mediterranean warmth, dazzling virtuosity, and one of the great masterpieces of the Romantic chamber music repertoire. In a programme that moves from the poetic landscapes of Italy to the sweeping emotional horizons of Brahms, audiences will encounter music rich in colour, imagination, and expressive power.

The evening opens with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Ecloghe, Op. 206, a captivating work inspired by the pastoral poetry and landscapes of the Mediterranean. Castelnuovo-Tedesco was one of the twentieth century’s most important composers for the guitar and a close collaborator of the legendary Andrés Segovia. Throughout his career he created music distinguished by lyrical beauty, literary inspiration, and a remarkable gift for instrumental colour.

The four movements of Ecloghe unfold like a sequence of musical paintings. The gentle Andantino quieto introduces a world of serenity and warm Mediterranean light. The lively Allegro con spirito (Tempo di Saltarello) evokes the energy of an Italian folk dance, while the expressive Lento – Elegiaco reveals the composer’s gift for melodic melancholy and introspection. The joyful Allegretto vivace con spirito concludes the work with dance-like vitality and elegance. The unusual combination of flute, English horn, and guitar creates a uniquely intimate sound world in which each instrument contributes its own distinctive colour and character.

At the heart of Mediterranean Fire, Guitar Virtuosity and Brahmsian Grandeur stands Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s celebrated Capriccio Diabolico, one of the most brilliant works ever written for solo guitar. Composed as a tribute to Niccolò Paganini, the legendary violin virtuoso whose astonishing technique inspired fascination throughout nineteenth-century Europe, the work pushes the guitar to its technical and expressive limits.

Rapid scales, dazzling passagework, lyrical episodes, and dramatic contrasts combine to create a work of extraordinary theatrical flair. The music captures something of Paganini’s mythical aura while simultaneously showcasing the remarkable possibilities of the modern classical guitar. The performance is given by Jonas Egholm, internationally recognised as one of the leading guitarists of his generation. His technical mastery and musical imagination make him an ideal interpreter of this virtuosic masterpiece.

The second half of the concert is devoted to Johannes Brahms’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26, one of the composer’s most expansive and life-affirming chamber works. Written during Brahms’s early maturity, the quartet combines intimate chamber music dialogue with a scale and richness that often approach the symphonic.

The opening Allegro non troppo unfolds with remarkable freedom and generosity, revealing Brahms’s gift for long, singing melodies and masterful thematic development. The serene Poco adagio forms the emotional heart of the work, offering music of profound tenderness and lyrical beauty. A powerful Scherzo introduces rhythmic drive and dramatic contrast before the exhilarating finale brings the quartet to a triumphant and joyful conclusion.

Among Brahms’s chamber works, the A major Piano Quartet occupies a unique position. While many of his compositions explore darker emotional landscapes, this quartet radiates warmth, optimism, and confidence. The music celebrates the expressive possibilities of chamber music through its abundance of melody, rhythmic vitality, and richly woven instrumental textures.

At the centre of this programme lies a fascinating meeting of two very different musical worlds. Castelnuovo-Tedesco paints with colour, atmosphere, and Mediterranean light. Brahms creates vast musical architectures of extraordinary emotional depth and humanity. Yet both composers share a devotion to craftsmanship, melody, and expressive sincerity. Together, their works reveal the extraordinary breadth and richness of the European chamber music tradition.

The concert also brings together an exceptional international ensemble of musicians representing some of Europe’s leading chamber music traditions. Their collaboration reflects the spirit of EICMF, which for more than a quarter of a century has brought together distinguished artists from across the world to explore chamber music at the highest artistic level.

Presented at the Syddansk Musikkonservatorium (SDMK) and recorded by Danish National Radio (DR), Mediterranean Fire, Guitar Virtuosity and Brahmsian Grandeur offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience three remarkable masterpieces in a single evening. From the poetic Mediterranean landscapes of Ecloghe and the dazzling brilliance of Capriccio Diabolico to the radiant humanity of Brahms’s Piano Quartet, the programme promises an unforgettable musical journey filled with colour, virtuosity, and expressive depth.

As one of the final highlights of EICMF 2026, this special DR concert brings together some of the festival’s most distinguished artists in a programme that perfectly reflects the festival’s commitment to artistic excellence, musical discovery, and international collaboration.

Venue: Syddansk Musikkonservatorium, Esbjerg