Oslo Philharmonic Chamber Series Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Johannes Brahms

Musicians from the Oslo Philharmonic invite you to an intimate concert where the middle register takes centre stage. The concert grows out of the musicians' own desire to explore the rich dialogues of chamber music, with the viola as an equal partner in the musical conversation.

Mozart: Duo for Violin and Viola in G major, KV. 423

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's (1756–1791) Duo for Violin and Viola in G major, K. 423 breaks down the traditional hierarchies between instruments. Here, violin and viola meet as equal voices in an intimate dialogue, with Mozart masterfully allowing both instruments to flourish in their respective registers. The duo is a rare example of how the middle register can step out of its usual accompanying role and become a driving musical force.

Brahms: String Quintet in G major, Op. 111

Johannes Brahms' (1833–1897) String Quintet in G major, Op. 111 was the composer's final contribution to the chamber music repertoire. With two violas in the ensemble, the middle register acquires an unusually rich and full sonority. Brahms takes full advantage of this scoring, creating textures in which the warm, deep tones of the violas are woven together with the brighter voices of the violins and the cello's deeper bass. The work lasts about thirty minutes and presents Brahms at his most mature and reflective.