Czech Chamber Music Society ⬩ Bennewitz Quartet

This evening’s programme will feature two important works from the vast chamber music repertoire of two close friends, Brahms and Dvořák. Dvořák’s string quintet with double bass dates from the period when his compositional style was solidifying. He was well aware of the work’s quality because he gave it the motto “For My Nation” and entered it in a competition held by the Artists’ Association. The work earned him the first prize. In 1890, a year after Dvořák had finished the revised version of his quintet, Brahms composed one of his late works. His String Quintet No. 2 in G major sounds surprisingly light, cheerful, even joyous.