Concert "Classics but not too much"

The soloists of the Algarve Orchestra present an unusual formation for this chamber music concert: the woodwind quartet. This format, both intimate and versatile, was very popular in the early decades of the 19th century, with Italians Gioacchino Rossini and Vincenzo Gambaro each writing their scores for this formation in the same years, between 1812 and 1813.

Franz Schubert, who certainly heard woodwind quartets in domestic contexts such as soirées and musical evenings, was a familiar name among the main circles of music lovers in Vienna. Known in those years as a song composer, he was capable of accompanying them on the piano. Naturally shy, his genius would only be recognised in all its magnitude after his premature death at the age of 31 in 1828.

In a period marked by Rossini's operatic dominance, Schubert must have certainly listened to many arrangements of his operas performed by small formations like the woodwind quartet. Thus, a tribute is paid to him by interpreting the masterful slow movement of his main string quartet, Death and the Maiden, written in 1824 and intended for a context of private and informal listening.

Finally, to showcase the sound of our times, the woodwind quartet will perform a tango by Daniel Dorff, composed in 1990 for a clarinet quartet, which was so successful that the author had to create more than a dozen versions for other instrumental formations. Tonight's version is the 14th!

Programme

G. Rossini, Andante and Tema con Variazioni F. Schubert, Andante con moto from the Quartet in D minor, Death and the Maiden Vincenzo Gambaro, Quartet No. 1 in F Major, Three Concertante Quartets, Op.4 I. Allegro
II. Andantino
III. Polonaise
Vicenzo Gambaro, Quartet No. 2 in D minor, Three Concertante Quartets, Op.4 I. Allegro brillante
II. Menuetto vivace
III. Finale agitato

Daniel Dorff, It takes four to Tango

Joaquim Moita, Bassoon
Luís Miguel Garcia, Flute
Emídio Costa, Clarinet
André Gomes, Horn