Intimate Dialogues – Schubert, Damase, and Françaix
Nordby Church, Fanø. Tuesday 19th August 2025 at 7.30 pm
SINGLE TICKETS All-inclusive Festival Ticket KR. 700,-
Franz Schubert: String Trio in B-flat Major, D.581
George Enescu: Impromptu Concertante in G flat Major for Violin and Piano
Jean-Michel Damase: Trio for Oboe, Horn, and Piano
Jean Françaix: Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano
Intimate Dialogues – Schubert, Damase, and Françaix
Chamber Music for Strings, Winds, and Piano
An evening that moves between the elegance of early Romanticism and the wit of 20th-century French music. Join leading artists in a programme filled with lyricism, playful invention, and expressive beauty.
Franz Schubert: String Trio in B-flat Major, D.581
Schubert’s String Trio is a charming and lyrical work, full of graceful melodies and a light conversational spirit between violin, viola, and cello. Less stormy than his later works, it reflects the poised and elegant style of his youth.
George Enescu: Impromptu Concertante in G flat Major for Violin and Piano
Enescu’s education under Massenet and Fauré in Paris, combined with his Romanian heritage and early exposure to Viennese traditions, informed his compositional style. The Impromptu Concertant exemplifies this synthesis, blending French elegance, German structural rigor, and Romanian melodic sensibilities. Although not as widely known as his larger works, this piece offers insight into Enescu’s early development and the diverse influences that shaped his musical language.
Jean-Michel Damase: Trio for Oboe, Horn, and Piano
Jean-Michel Damase’s Trio for Oboe, Horn, and Piano (1968) blends French neoclassical clarity with a vibrant, contemporary expressiveness. The opening Allegro moderato immediately showcases Damase’s deft handling of timbre, allowing the horn and oboe to intertwine lyrical and rhythmic lines while the piano provides shimmering textures. The central Andante moves into a world of introspective lyricism, balancing modal harmonies and delicate phrasing with occasional touches of melancholy. The closing Allegro vivo bursts forth with kinetic energy, using lively rhythms, witty interplay, and lightness of touch — hallmarks of Damase’s ability to evoke character and contrast without ever losing elegance. The trio as a whole highlights both the individuality and the collaborative potential of the instruments in a tightly woven, colorful tapestry.
Jean Françaix: Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano
Françaix’s Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano (1994) epitomizes his gift for sparkling, urbane chamber music. The opening Allegro vivo is crisp and witty, full of brisk exchanges and unexpected harmonic turns. In the Scherzando, Françaix delights in sharp rhythmic play and breezy syncopations, bringing a sense of refined mischief to the music. The Adagio reveals a deeper, more lyrical core, offering long, flowing lines that contrast poignantly with the surrounding lightness. The final Allegro assai races forward with infectious vitality, culminating in a tour de force of dazzling precision and buoyant energy. Throughout the trio, Françaix combines impeccable craftsmanship with a playful spirit, allowing each instrument to shine while celebrating the sheer joy of ensemble dialogue.
The Musicians
The Norwegian pianist Christian Ihle Hadland has built an international career as a soloist and chamber musician, performing with leading orchestras and at major festivals across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Polish violinist Maria Wloszczowska, is recognized for her versatile musicianship, performing as a soloist, director, and chamber musician. She serves as Artistic Partner of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Director and Leader of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Spanish violinist Pablo Hernán Benedí, has built a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician. He is a founding member of the Trio Isimsiz and has been a member of the Chiaroscuro Quartet, performing extensively across Europe.
British violinist Tim Crawford is an accomplished soloist and chamber musician. He has performed across the UK and Europe and is currently studying at the Basel Musik Akademie under Rainer Schmidt.
Michel Camille, has been the violist of the Esbjerg Ensemble since 1995 and served as its Artistic Director from 1997 to 2001. He founded the Esbjerg International Chamber Music Festival in 1999, attracting musicians worldwide.
French violist Hélène Clément has been a member of the Doric String Quartet, performing globally at venues such as the Vienna Musikverein and Wigmore Hall. She teaches at the Royal Academy of Music in London and plays on Benjamin Britten’s 1843 Giussani viola, on loan from the Britten-Pears Foundation.
Catalan cellist Pau Codina has performed extensively throughout Europe in prestigious venues like Wigmore Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He is a graduate of the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth.
American cellist Eddie Pogossian is a graduate of the Juilliard School and the Royal College of Music. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the Boston Pops and the Royal Northern Sinfonia and serves as Professor of Cello at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Born in Bucharest in 1999, David Daniel Dinu is a Romanian oboist currently based in Copenhagen. He completed his Bachelor’s degree at the National University of Music in Bucharest and is pursuing postgraduate studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music under Professor Max Artved. Dinu has performed with several prominent Danish orchestras, including Tivoli’s Promenade Orchestra, the Danish Chamber Orchestra, the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He holds the position of oboist with the Esbjerg Ensemble, Denmark’s distinguished international chamber music group.
Finnish bassoonist Antti Salovaara began his studies at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki under Jaakko Luoma. He furthered his education at the Conservatoire de Paris with Laurent Lefèvre and at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover with Bence Bogányi, graduating in 2018. Since 2017, Salovaara has been a member of the Esbjerg Ensemble. He also performs with Tölöläb, an electroacoustic experimental woodwind group based in Helsinki, showcasing his versatility in both traditional and contemporary music settings.
Dutch horn player Joke Wijma studied with Frank Brouns and Hans Dullarert at the Conservatory in Groningen and continued her studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg under Professor Ab Koster. After graduating in 2004, she worked with the Duisburger Philharmoniker as an intern. Wijma has been a member of the Esbjerg Ensemble since 2005, contributing to its dynamic performances and commitment to both contemporary and classical repertoire.