The End of Romanticism

The three works each reflect a different moment in the transition from Romanticism to the twentieth century. Written near the end of Brahms’s life, the Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op. 115 reflects the warmth, lyricism, and profound introspection characteristic of his final creative period. Mahler’s Piano Quartet in A Minor, his only surviving complete instrumental chamber work, offers a glimpse into his early compositional style and hints at the emotional depth that would later define his symphonies. In contrast, Milhaud’s Suite for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano, Op. 157b brings a different energy to the program, with its colorful harmonies, playful rhythms, and distinctly twentieth-century sound.