SZS MASTER SERIES I

XU ZHONG AND HIS FRIENDS

2025.12.07（SUN）19 : 30

Jinji Lake Concert Hall SCAC

Piano        XU Zhong

Violin        Ellinor D’ Melon

Viola         CAO Fei

Cello         MA Xinhua

MOZAT                

Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, K. 478

Fauré                

Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 15   

BRAHMS             

Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25

NOTICE TO AUDIENCE

1. DURATION Approximately 111 minutes with a 15-min intermission. 

2. SUGGESTED AGE 8 and above. 

3. Minimum height for children :1.3m. 

Tonight’s concert will present three milestone masterpieces of the piano quartet repertoire, allowing the ensemble to echo and leave the timeless lyrical lines of chamber music engraved in our hearts and ears. These three pieces, vary from Mozart’s early experiments to Fauré’s graceful lyricism that embodies French romanticism to Brahms’s symphonically scaled emotional torrents, each uniquely demonstrate the flawless harmony and infinite charm of the piano and strings. The program opens with Mozart’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor composed in 1785. Its dramatic G-Minor tonality, innovative model of equal dialogue between piano and strings, rich and profound harmonic language, and fusion of rigorous structure with intense emotional contrasts not only mark the maturity of Mozart’s personal artistry but also stand as a pivotal milestone in the development of Classical chamber music. It sets a standard for upcoming composers experimenting with the endless opportunities of piano and string chamber music. Following this is Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, composed around 1879. This work, written during his youth, is full of deep lyricism and Romantic passion. Its main charm lies in its long, beautiful melodic lines and its fluid, rich harmonies. Sincere and passionate, the emotional expression varies between melancholy to enthusiasm and ends with a beautiful resolution. Fauré’s French style shines through here: the music maintains its natural grace, balanced structure, and distinct lines amidst surging emotion. Concluding the evening is Brahms’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, composed in 1861. With its expansive idea and epic depth of sound, this piece pushes the limits of chamber music. Its emotional range is extensive: the first movement is full of tragic power and anxious struggle; the second movement displays warmth amid melancholy; the third movement unfolds with tender affection; the well-known fourth movement, the “Gypsy Rondo”, ends in an excited and vital Hungarian Gypsy style. Together, the string parts and the piano’s complex chord structure will create an immense auditory world.