F. Berwald: Grand Septet for clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello & double bass in B-flat major

R. Vaughan Williams: Piano Quintet in C minor

Interval

J. Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26

J. Bliss - clarinet
G. Eckersley - bassoon
M. Owen - horn
J. Liebeck - violin
B. Roskams - viola
C. Miles - cello
S. Watton - double bass
A. Savary - piano
C. Saluste-Bridoux - violin
S. Oswell - viola
T. Carroll - cello
K. Apekisheva - piano

The stage, very full for the delightful and undeservedly neglected septet by Franz Berwald, gradually empties as our second evening concert progresses. The Vaughan-Williams piano quintet is also a newcomer to the Festival. Composed between 1903-5, it was greatly influenced by our final composer, Brahms. His A major quartet is one of his finest works, infrequently programmed because of its length. It too is a first at the Festival, completing our survey of Brahms’ wonderful piano quartets.