Piano Quartet: Julian Rachlin, Sarah McElravy, Raphaela Gromes, Julian Riem

Welcome to Vienna - Cellist Raphaela Gromes has already demonstrated her passion for artistic exploration during a guest performance in Freiburg in 2025, playing alongside her piano partner Julian Riem. This time, she embarks on a journey to Julian Rachlin's Viennese youth together with Canadian world citizen Sarah McElravy and renowned violinist Julian Rachlin. During their tour of the outstanding works of the musical metropolis on the Danube, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart cannot be missing: Viennese publishers expected from him accessible, easily memorable piano pieces with simple string accompaniment. Yet Mozart rebelled against these expectations and, through his intelligent dialogues - such as the E-flat major Quartet - and virtuosic interweaving of motifs, challenged conventional notions. From Gustav Mahler comes the sorrowful opening movement of a quartet from his time at the Vienna Conservatory, his only contribution to instrumental chamber music. Finally, Johannes Brahms' passionate Piano Quartet in A major op. 26 was the first work the composer allowed himself to premiere in his last home - Vienna.

Programme:
Mozart, Piano Quartet in E-flat major KV 493
Mahler, Quartet movement in A minor
Brahms, Piano Quartet in A major op. 26

Ensemble:
Piano Quartet
Julian Rachlin, violin
Sarah McElravy, viola
Raphaela Gromes, cello
Julian Riem, piano