March podcast

Brahms’s String Quintet No. 1 in F, Opus 88, is a relatively late piece. He wrote it in spring 1882, immediately after completing his Piano Trio in C, Opus 87; the two pieces were premiered together in Frankfurt on December 29, 1882. Why did Brahms turn to the genre of the quintet of two violins, two violas, and cello, having in his youth (pre-Symphony No. 1) written two masterful works for string sextet along with three string quartets? It may be that Mozart’s great works for string quintet suggested the choice; like Mozart, Brahms seemed to have a fondness for the added inner voice and the richness of texture that that provided. (From the program note by Robert Kirzinger)

BRAHMS String quintet in F, Op. 88 (recorded live 3/7/09)
Jae Young Cosmos Lee, violin
Jesse Irons, violin
Stephanie Fong, viola
Marcus Thompson, viola
Miriam Bolkosky, cello
Movement 1
Movement 2
Movement 3

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Two nice reviews

We received two nice reviews today, one from the new online magazine the Boston Music Intelligencer, and one from the Boston Globe.

Let the bidding begin!

Radius's 2009 Benefit Auction is now LIVE!

More auction info

We're almost ready to publish our online auction, starting a week from today on Ebay. Thanks to Ebay and their charitable partner, Mission Fish, we'll earn 100% of each item's final sale price - Ebay donates back all listing fees and commissions.

Here's a preview to whet your appetite...




Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundle for Xbox 360. AUTOGRAPHED by the game’s creators at Harmonix Music Systems. Bundle includes guitar, drums, microphone, and game.

WICKED - First edition hardcover, autographed by Gregory Maguire.

Inman Oasis gift certificate: 45 minute soak for two in private hot tub

Auction

In celebration of our tenth anniversary (and in light of our lousy economy), we're conducting an online auction in March. We've got some tremendous items already, including autographed Yo-Yo Ma CDs, a signed copy of Rock Band, and a gift certificate to the wonderful Elephant Walk restaurant. We'll be announcing the auction formally in the coming weeks, but if you have anything to contribute or would like to volunteer your time, please contact us at radius@radiusensemble.org. Thanks and stay tuned!

Happy new year!

I took some time to clean out a closet this week and found this great photo from our first season. This shot was taken in the lobby of Pickman Hall at Longy in late 1999 or early 2000. Most of our original members have moved on (and we miss them!) but you'll see Anne Howarth (horn), Sarah Bob (piano) and yours truly below. It's fun to see where we've been as I think about where we'll go in the next decade.

Happy new year!

November podcast

The busiest and most successful period in the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the five-year span following his permanent move from Salzburg to Vienna in March 1781. Mozart’s fame reached its height during the next few years. His piano concertos, in particular, were popular, and there were many subscribers willing to pay to hear the young man perform these brilliant, elegant works. Most of his concerts took place during Lent, when theatrical productions were forbidden. One of the peaks of Mozart’s activity came in the Lenten season of 1784, when he gave concerts on three successive Wednesdays beginning March 17. The Quintet in E-flat, K.452 was first performed on April 1, along with two Piano Concertos: No. 15 in B-flat, K.450, and No. 16 in D, K.451. At the time he considered these “the best work he ever composed.” (From the program note by Robert Kirzinger)

MOZART Quintet in E-flat for piano and winds, K.452 (recorded live 11/15/08)
Jennifer Montbach, oboe
Eran Egozy, clarinet
Gregory Newton, bassoon
Anne Howarth, horn
Robert Levin, piano
Movement 1
Movement 2
Movement 3

If you enjoy our podcast, please consider a contribution. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated!