From Vienna with Love

The Orion Ensemble opens its 31st season with "From Vienna with Love," welcoming back frequent guest violist Stephen Boe, who joins the Orion musicians for a program featuring two works each by two composers beloved by Orion audiences: Mozart and Brahms.

"This is truly a dramatic concert in every respect-not only is the music exquisite, but the amazing circumstances in which each piece was created are equally stunning," said Orion's clarinetist and executive director, Kathryne Pirtle. "Although rejected by his publisher, Mozart continued to bring immortal music to the world and helped a fellow composer whose career was threatened by illness. An older composer suffering from writer's block, Brahms had decided to retire from creating music, until his spirit was filled by the talents of a great clarinetist, and he also joined two composer friends to collectively create a work celebrating the famous violinist whose talent inspired them."

Duo in G Major for Violin and Viola, K. 423
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91)

Mozart composed this Duo to help out his friend, composer Michael Haydn (brother of Joseph), when illness prevented him from completing an order for six duets from Archbishop Colloredo. This duet features the viola as an equal partner with the violin in music that is known for luscious harmonies and finely crafted independent lines for each instrument.

Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat Major, K. 493
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91)

When Mozart's publisher, Franz Anton Hoffmeister, complained that the composer's first Piano Quartet (No. 1 in G minor) was too passionate and difficult for casual Viennese music makers to enjoy, Mozart obliged by creating Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat Major, K. 493, a work that was more tranquil and far more luminous. Although the publisher released him from any obligation, Mozart completed it regardless, and Orion performs it on this season opener.

Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114
Johannes Brahms (1833-97)

Brahms was experiencing writer's block and had decided to retire but then heard clarinetist Richard Muehlfeld play, calling him his "dear nightingale." Brahms was so inspired that he wrote the Clarinet Trio, an expressive work for clarinet, cello and piano.

Scherzo in C minor for Violin and Piano, WoO 2
Johannes Brahms (1833-97)

The Scherzo is actually Brahms' energetic contribution to a three-part collaboration with Robert Schumann and Schumann's gifted student, Albert Dietrich. The full work, the F-A-E Sonata, written for the great violinist Joseph Joachim, reflects a phrase Joachim often used about his own life, "Frei aber einsam" (free but lonely).