To Joy!

Septet in E-flat Major for Strings and Winds, Op. 20
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

For its first-ever performances of this work, Orion welcomes back returning guest musicians Stephen Boe, viola; Robert Kassinger, bass; Andrei Muravev, bassoon; and Gregory Flint, French horn, who join Orion musicians Kathryne Pirtle, clarinet; Florentina Râmniceanu, violin; and Judy Stone, cello. Around the time he wrote this Septet, Beethoven was gaining renown as a composer, with more of his works published and performed. Beethoven dedicated this work, in the form of a serenade or divertimento, to Empress Maria Theresia; it was immediately successful and popular. The first and last of its six movements feature slow introductions to fast sections; the inner movements include a lyrical adagio, a minuet, a theme and variations and a playful scherzo. Most of the movements feature the clarinet and/or the violin, although the cello is highlighted in the trio of the scherzo, and the final presto features horn fanfares.

"The Beethoven septet takes a lot of planning, scheduling and rehearsing and is rarely heard live," said Râmniceanu. "It is truly a special treat to be able to present this type of piece. The combination of strings, winds and brass creates an unusually warm resonance, profoundly intense yet mellow - nuances and colors that are unique to this combination."

Commented Pirtle, "I am extremely excited about performing the Beethoven Septet as I have never performed it before. Playing this great work with nearly all of the musicians that we performed with on the Schubert Octet will be such a phenomenal experience for both the ensemble and our audiences."

Quartet in C Minor for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano, Op. 13
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Strauss composed this work toward the end of his "conservative" period, as he began to break away from the influence of his father, Franz Strauss, who was also a musician (horn player, music professor and conductor) and schooled his son in Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert. Strauss' career spanned eight decades, and he wrote in most every musical genre. This Quartet, which was one of Strauss' last "conventional" works before he headed in new directions, pays tribute to the music of Johannes Brahms, especially Brahms' piano quartets in G minor and in C minor. Strauss' Quartet features a full-textured opening movement, a light playful scherzo, a lyrical andante and a passionate and virtuosic finale.