(In Cantonese 廣東話主講​)

The three-part 'Mostly Brahms' lecture-recital series opens with the composer's final chamber work, Clarinet Sonatas Op. 120, Nos. 1 & 2. Composed in 1894, just three years before his death, the set was one of the earliest works for clarinet and piano in music history. Behind the carefully-balanced instrumental dialogues are sheer conciseness, purity, and profundity — a refined approach Brahms adopted towards the last phase of his life, pairing his masterful artistry with stylistic maturity. The set of masterpieces was later transcribed for the viola by the composer himself, casting the solo spotlight over this 'middle-voice' instrument. In this lecture-recital, violist Andrew Ling and pianist Nancy Loo will present these two beloved sonatas and unveil the hidden charm of the viola's warm and rich timbre.