Quartet from Melbourne Chamber Orchestra with Andrea Lam

Friendship and conversation is at the heart of chamber music – as is evidenced in the sensitive musicianship of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. In this program, MCO Artistic Director Sophie Rowell leads a quartet of the Orchestra’s players in a program that showcases the variety and versatility of chamber works for strings and piano. They are joined in their musical exploration by internationally lauded pianist and renowned chamber musician Andrea Lam.

Beginning with Schubert’s first completed foray into music for piano and string ensemble, the program also investigates newer sound worlds: a new commission for string quartet by Noongar composer and violist Aaron Wyatt dialogues with Paul Stanhope’s 2010 work for violin and piano Agnus Dei (after the fire). The afternoon ends with all musicians together on stage, sharing in the exhilaration, lyricism and fireworks of one of the most beloved chamber works of all: Dvořák’s epic Piano Quintet No. 2 in A.

Quartet from Melbourne Chamber Orchestra

     Sophie Rowell | Artistic Director / Violin

     Miki Tsunoda | Violin

     Merewyn Bramble | Viola

     Blair Harris | Cello

Andrea Lam | Piano

Broadcast Partner

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Adagio e Rondo concertante in F for Piano Quartet, D. 487 [15']

I. Adagio
II. Rondo. Allegro vivace

Aaron Wyatt (b. 1982)
Under the Canopy for String Quartet (new work commissioned by MCO) [10']

Paul Stanhope (b. 1969)
Agnus Dei (after the fire) for Violin and Piano [11']

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
Piano Quintet No. 2 in A, Op. 81 [40']

I. Allegro ma non tanto
II. Dumka: Andante con moto
III. Scherzo (Furiant): Molto vivace
IV. Finale: Allegro