Ensemble.si - Strings

Although earlier attempts at writing for string sextet came from composers such as Luigi Boccherini and Louis Spohr, it was the mid-19th-century masterpieces of Johannes Brahms that truly inspired many to explore the genre. Richard Strauss crowned his compositional legacy with Capriccio, a meta-opera that delves into the relationship between words and music in opera.

The work opens with a string sextet, which also becomes the first topic of conversation in the drama. Frank Bridge spent six years composing his sextet. Over that time, the early influence of Brahms gradually gave way to the colours of French impressionism and a growing sensitivity to sonority. Antonín Dvořák composed his sextet in 1878, expressing both his affection for classical forms and his deep connection to the folk music of his native Bohemia.

The aforementioned works will be performed by Petra Kovačič, concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic; Matjaž Bogataj, a violinist who, since the 2017/18 season, has held the position of principal second violin with the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra; Gea Pantner Volfand, a violist and member of the Accadémia String Quartet, and a permanent member of the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra since 2012; Mladen Somborac, a violist with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra who also regularly collaborates with various ensembles; Nika Somborac, who has been a regular member of the Furiant Quartet and other chamber groups since 2011; and Primož Zalaznik, a cellist and permanent member of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra since 2018.