Brahms etta

The evening is led by guest conductor Christian Blex and features three works that explore the sonic possibilities of instruments in different ways.

Jan W. Morthenson pursued abstract music that represents nothing - "music in itself", in his own words. In Omega, inspired by the expanded playing techniques of the 20th century, he constructs an arc of carefully crafted voices. Caroline Shaw takes a similar approach in Entr'acte, transposing a Haydn string quartet into our time.

Brahms grappled with form and tonality in his twenties when he began sketching a symphony - but how to write something new with Beethoven behind you? Symphony No. 1 premiered to great acclaim only when Brahms turned 43.