To the Fourth Power: Quartets of Brahms and Fauré 
Chamber Music Series

A nonet, a string quartet, and a piano quartet encompass a powerful program of chamber works for large ensembles. Lyricism and drama abound in Brahms’ String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, a rhythmically compact dynamo that charges ahead in high-spirited dance, occasionally pausing to flirt in operatic fashion. Fauré’s achingly romantic Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor is a musical affair of the heart. Written during the period following his broken engagement to his fiancée, its shimmering melodies are intertwined with tumultuous depth. At the work’s emotional core—the profound Adagio—is a revelation of his grief.