​Chamber Music Recital

GREAT CLASSICS
IN POCKET FORMAT

When the Orchestra Stays at Home

The Story

This programme highlights the lightness of the Classical era, celebrating a legendary triumvirate of Viennese Classicism: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, his star pupil Johann Nepomuk Hummel, and Ludwig van Beethoven. That the orchestra stays at home is by no means a compromise. Back then, it was entirely common to perform grand concertos in private circles with just a handful of strings.

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Hummel was a master of these pocket-format versions. Having spent two years of his childhood growing up directly in Mozart's household, he knew exactly how his teacher played. He arranged the piano concertos so skillfully for a few instruments that the music loses none of its impact, while gaining immensely in clarity.

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Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto also sounds refreshingly light and transparent in this slender instrumentation. It is performed on a Viennese fortepiano with only 66 keys—exactly the number Beethoven had at his disposal at the time.

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Works & Repertoire

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9; Hummel: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 87; Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3

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Notes for Presenters

This format is highly flexible. Upon request, other piano concertos and chamber music works can be performed in the same instrumentation. Repertoire from the Romantic era (Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann) is also available, performed on either a historical Romantic or a modern grand piano.

Instrument

Viennese grand piano after Anton Walter & Söhne (1805) from my own collection. Transport to the concert venue including tuning is possible (max. 300 km from Zurich).​

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​​Instrumentation 

Ensemble Elsewhere: Els Biesemans (fortepiano) with string quintet

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Spoken Commentary

Upon request, Els Biesemans guides the audience through the evening with charm, humour, and engaging stories. She shares insights into the multifaceted relationships between the three composers: Hummel was first Mozart’s pupil and later became Beethoven’s best friend and supporter. A lively glimpse behind the scenes of music history—completely free of academic jargon, approachable, and entertaining.

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Duration

± 90', concert with intermission

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BEETHOVEN & MOZART

Four Winds, a Fortepiano,
and a Historical Pop Hit

The Story

Mozart considered his piano quintet with winds to be the finest work he had ever written. The young Beethoven admired this composition so deeply that he later composed a piano quintet of his own in the exact same, unusual instrumentation: oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and fortepiano.

The programme is complemented by a genuine chart-topper of Viennese Classicism: the famous "Gassenhauer" Trio. Beethoven takes a wildly popular opera melody of the time which—just like today’s pop hits—was whistled and sung in every street (Gasse).

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Works & Repertoire

Mozart: Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, K. 452; Beethoven: Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, Op. 16; Piano Trio No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 11 "Gassenhauer"

Instrument

Viennese grand piano after Anton Walter & Söhne (1805) from my own collection. Transport to the concert venue including tuning is possible (max. 300 km from Zurich).

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​​Instrumentation 

Ensemble Elsewhere: Els Biesemans (fortepiano) and 4 winds (oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn)

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Spokjen Commentary

Upon request, the programme can be accompanied by a commentary by Els Biesemans.

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Duration​

± 70', concert with or without intermission

"ANSWER THE TELEPHONE!"
MOZART, HAYDN AND STERKEL

The Fortepiano as the New Mouthpiece of Emotions

The Story

Mozart's famous G minor Piano Quartet was written precisely at the time when the fortepiano was superseding the harpsichord. Musicians jokingly refer to the opening motif as the "Answer the telephone!" motif. And it fits perfectly: thanks to its new dynamic possibilities, the fortepiano became the preferred mouthpiece of emotions.

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The Piano Quartet by Sterkel proves to be an absolute discovery, captivating listeners with its lyrical originality.

The crowning glory of the evening is Haydn’s humorous D major Piano Concerto. It is performed in a version common at the time, accompanied by a string quartet.

Thanks to this slender instrumentation, every single note suddenly becomes audible.

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Works & Repertoire

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K. 478; Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel: Piano Quartet in B-flat major; Joseph Haydn: Piano Concerto in D major, Hob. XVIII:11

Instrument

Schiedmayer grand piano (1790) from my own collection. Transport to the concert venue including tuning is possible (max. 300 km from Zurich).

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​​Instrumentation 

Ensemble Elsewhere: Els Biesemans (fortepiano) and string quartet

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Spoken Commentary

Upon request, the concert can be offered with a brief introductory commentary. 

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Duration

± 70', concert with or without intermission

COURTLY ELEGANCE
BY HAYDN, HUMMEL, AND SCHACHT

The Joy of Music-Making at the Court of Thurn und Taxis

​​​Die Geschichte 

The court of Thurn und Taxis in Regensburg was considered one of the most glamorous and progressive musical metropolises in Europe. For 30 years, Theodor von Schacht shaped the musical life there as Chief Intendant and Court Composer.

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This programme carries a sense of true discovery: the trios unearthed by Els Biesemans are exclusive rarities. Musically, they have no need to hide behind the highly popular works of Joseph Haydn.

The music of Johann Nepomuk Hummel—rarely heard today—is equally exceptional. It is no wonder that Haydn personally appointed him as his successor at the renowned Schloss Esterházy.

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Works & Repertoire

Exclusive chamber music by Theodor von Schacht, combined with trios by Joseph Haydn and Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

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Note for Presenters

A similar programme is also available for a larger ensemble with a string quintet and winds (including newly discovered piano concertos).

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Instrument

Schiedmayer grand piano (1790) from my own collection. Transport to the concert venue including tuning is possible (max. 300 km from Zurich). Also optionally available with an original tangent piano (the works were presumably performed on the tangent piano).

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​​Instrumentation 

Trio Elsewhere: Els Biesemans (fortepiano), violin, cello

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Spoken Commentary

Upon request, the programme can also be offered with a brief introductory commentary..

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Duration

± 85' with intermission