Albéric Magnard (1865-1914): Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano in D minor, Op. 8I. ModéréII. Très vifIII. LentIV. Animé. Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26I.
Allegro non troppoII. Poco adagioIII. Scherzo: Poco allegroIV. Allegro
KERSTIN THEILE, FLUTE · DAVID DANIEL DINU, OBOE · RON CHEN-ZION, CLARINET · SOFIA OBANDO, BASSOON · VALDEMAR WENZEL MOST, PIANO · JULIETTE ROOS, VIOLIN · MICHEL CAMILLE, VIOLA · PAU CODINA, CELLO
Kerstin Thiele, flute · Ron Chen-Zion, oboe · David Daniel Dinu, clarinet · Valdemar Wenzel Most, piano · Juliette Roos, violin · Michel Camille, viola · Pau Codina, cello
The nineteenth concert of Fanø Festival 2026, Magnard and Brahms' Passion, brings together two remarkable chamber music masterpieces united by emotional depth, lyrical richness, and an extraordinary sense of scale. Performed by an outstanding international ensemble, the programme pairs the rarely heard wind quintet of French composer Albéric Magnard with one of the most expansive and life-affirming chamber works by Johannes Brahms.
The concert opens with Albéric Magnard's Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano in D minor, Op. 8, a work that stands among the finest achievements of French chamber music. Magnard occupies a unique place in musical history. Often referred to as the "French Bruckner", he combined symphonic ambition and structural strength with a deeply personal and expressive musical voice. Independent by nature and uncompromising in his artistic ideals, he created music distinguished by integrity, nobility, and emotional sincerity.
Completed in 1894, the Quintet reveals Magnard's remarkable mastery of instrumental colour and form. The unusual combination of winds and piano allows each instrument to emerge with its own personality while contributing to a richly balanced ensemble sound. The opening movement unfolds with broad melodic lines and dramatic intensity, while the lively second movement sparkles with rhythmic vitality and brilliant interplay between the players. At the heart of the work lies a deeply expressive slow movement whose lyrical beauty reveals Magnard at his most personal and moving. The energetic finale brings the work to a triumphant and exhilarating conclusion.
Magnard's life ended in tragic circumstances at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. When German soldiers approached his estate, he attempted to defend his home and was killed during the confrontation. The fire that followed destroyed many of his manuscripts. Yet the surviving works reveal a composer of remarkable originality whose music is increasingly recognised as one of the great achievements of French late Romanticism.
At the heart of Magnard and Brahms' Passionlies a fascinating dialogue between two composers who combined emotional sincerity with exceptional craftsmanship. Though separated by nationality and musical environment, both sought to create music of lasting expressive power and artistic integrity.
The second half of the programme is devoted to Johannes Brahms's Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26, one of the largest and most generous chamber works of the nineteenth century. Written during Brahms's early maturity, the quartet displays the composer's extraordinary gift for combining intimate chamber music dialogue with almost symphonic breadth and power.
The opening movement unfolds on a grand scale, filled with expansive melodies and rhythmic vitality. The serene Poco adagio offers one of Brahms's most beautiful slow movements, characterised by warmth, tenderness, and lyrical grace. The energetic Scherzo provides dramatic contrast before the exhilarating finale brings the work to a brilliant and joyful conclusion. Throughout the quartet, Brahms demonstrates an extraordinary ability to balance structural mastery with spontaneous emotional expression.
The contrast between Magnard's French refinement and Brahms's German Romantic warmth forms one of the central attractions of Magnard and Brahms' Passion. While Magnard explores subtle instrumental colours and elegant textures, Brahms builds vast musical landscapes filled with lyricism, drama, and life-affirming energy. Together, the works reveal the remarkable diversity of European chamber music at the height of its creative powers.
Both composers shared a belief in the enduring value of musical craftsmanship. Neither followed fashionable trends, preferring instead to develop highly individual voices rooted in tradition while speaking directly to the emotions of their audiences. Their music remains compelling because it combines intellectual depth with genuine human feeling.
Presented in the beautiful surroundings of Nordby Church on Fanø, Magnard and Brahms' Passion offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience two masterpieces that combine emotional intensity, musical sophistication, and enduring artistic vision. From Magnard's rediscovered French masterpiece..
