Haydn - String Quartet in D Major, Op. 64 No. 5 "The Lark"

Played by the Rick Stengaards Piano Quartet (approx 20 minutes).The most celebrated component of the Op. 64 quartets is the Fifth, in D, the so-called "Lark" of which Richard Wigmore in his valuable Pocket Guide to Haydn writes: "The first movement's unforgettable, winged melody [ergo the "Lark" sobriquet] high on the first violin's E-string, is played as a soaring descant to the pawky, staccato march for the three lower instruments that had opened the proceedings." The theme returns in several guises throughout the movement. The slow movement is a poignant meditation, while the wittily danceable minuet is interrupted by one of Haydn's earthy trios. The finale is a splendidly light-fingered, hectic hubbub that has Beene likened to the British sailors' dance, the hornpipe.

The Fantasia in F minor by Franz Schubert, D.940, for piano four hands

Played by Chris & Jenny Cox. (Approx 20 minutes). Composed in 1828, the final year of Schubert's life, it's known for its emotional depth, shifting tonalities, and intricate interplay between the two piano parts.

A Brief Interval

The Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34, by Johannes Brahms

Played by Chris Cox, on piano, and Rick Stengaards String quartet (approx; 42 minutes). The work, "often called the crown of Johannes Brahms chamber music, of four movements, was completed during the summer of 1864, published in 1865 and dedicated to Her Royal Highness Princess Anna of Hesse. As a piano quintet, it was given its premiere in Paris some two weeks before Good Friday in 1868. The outer movements are more adventurous than usual in terms of harmony and are unsettling in effect. The introduction to the finale, with its rising figure in semitones, is especially remarkable. Piano and strings play an equally important role throughout this work, which Swafford notes for its "unity of expression" and a consistently dark mood: "at times anguished, at times (in the scherzo) demonic, at times tragic."

Details of the performers:

Warwick Stengaards is a Swedish-Australian internationally acclaimed conductor in Australia and in Europe, as well as a dedicated chamber musician playing 2nd Violin at the concert. He is joined by Matthew Witney playing 1st Violin. Matthew is a member of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra as a 1st Violin and an accomplished Music teacher with Music for Canberra. He works as a Research Fellow with Monash Health. Violist Tania Casey brings a wealth of experience to the ensemble as a full-time strings teacher at Haileybury College. Completing the quartet is Megan Smithies, Principal Cello and a founding member of the PCM Chamber Orchestra.

The string quartet will be joining Chris Cox an accomplished piano musician in the performance of the Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34, by Johannes Brahms. Chris Cox studied at London Trinity College of Music, followed by a working career as a music teacher both in Europe, Ethiopia and Dubai. On return to the UK following a Post graduate diploma to qualify to teach music in UK schools, he became music teacher in London before studying for a Masters Degree in Multimedia Production as a segway into Information Technology. Jenny Aviss (now Jenny Cox) also studied Music at the London Trinity College of Music where she first met Chris, and re-united with him in 2023 when he returned to the United Kingdom after living in Australia for a number of years and got together a number of Trinity College alumni to perform a recorded concert in London, which Chris organised.

Jenny was also a Music teacher both in the United Kingdom and in Switzerland then a Headmistress in a number of Girls Public Schools before becoming a Director of an International Girls College in Switzerland. Although she has kept up her shared interest in Music with her now husband Chris Cox.

Together, this accomplished group promises a dynamic and engaging performance, showcasing the depth and richness of chamber music.

Matthew Witney - 1st Violin
Warwick (Rick) Stengaards - 2nd violin
Megan Smithies - Cello
Tania Casey -Violin
Chris Cox - Piano

 

Chris Cox - Piano (Brahms and Schubert)
Jenny Cox - Piano (Schubert only)