Darwin Beethoven Festival- Saturday May 29

Musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music

Sonata for Horn and Piano in F major, Op. 17

Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11, 'Gassenhauer'

Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, Op. 16

After the Australian String Quartet's masterly journey through Beethoven's revolutionary string writing in the opening performance, the young musicians of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) take up the story, bringing brilliance, curiosity, and fresh perspectives to chamber works that celebrate dialogue, innovation, and musical partnership.

This concert explores Beethoven's remarkable imagination for chamber ensembles and his flair for musical conversation.

The lyrical Sonata for Horn and Piano in F major, Op. 17 pairs virtuosic brilliance with warmth and humour, giving both instruments equal voice in a work that helped expand the expressive possibilities of the horn.

The spirited Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11, nicknamed'Gassenhauer', delights audiences with its sparkling variations on a popular melody of Beethoven's day, combining elegance, charm and invention. Completing the program is the magnificent Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, Op. 16, a work inspired by Mozart yet unmistakably Beethovenian in its energy, dramatic contrasts and rich interplay between piano and winds.