Music shaped by memory and quiet reflection will take centre stage at the Wyvern Theatre next month, as two chamber works by Johannes Brahms are brought together for a lunchtime concert in Swindon.
The programme features Brahms’ Violin Sonata No.1 in G major, a work written during the summers of 1878 and 1879. The composer was famously self-critical, discarding earlier attempts before settling on the version that audiences now know. When Clara Schumann first heard the piece, she was immediately taken by it, and it remained one of her favourites for the rest of her life.
The sonata carries a warm, lyrical quality throughout, with a sense of looking back rather than pushing forward. Its gentle tone and flowing lines give it a feeling of quiet nostalgia, music that seems to unfold naturally rather than demand attention.
In contrast, the Horn Trio, written in 1865, comes from a more personal and difficult period in Brahms’ life, shortly after the death of his mother. Scored for violin, horn and piano, the piece balances his affection for the natural world with a deeper sense of loss. While moments of calm and openness remain, there is an underlying gravity that runs through the work.
The concert will be performed by violinist Michael Bochman, French horn player Nicholas Korth and pianist Paul Turner. The trio will take to the stage at the Wyvern Theatre on Wednesday 25 February, with a 1.05pm start, continuing the venue’s tradition of accessible midday concerts.
Tickets are priced at £9.50 for adults, which includes a £1 theatre levy. Students aged 15 to 18 can attend for £3.50, while accompanied children aged 14 and under are admitted free. A transaction fee of up to £3.95 may apply per booking.
