Often considered Brahms’s greatest chamber work, the Piano Quintet in F Minor had a complex compositional history. Completed in 1864, it began life two years earlier as a string quintet, which was then transcribed for two pianos. In its final form, it is notable for its musical cohesiveness and a brooding quality that ranges from the tragic to the practically possessed. Join Festival musicians for this special chamber concert in the Pavilion.

Plagued by insecurity, Tchaikovsky wrote about this symphony: “I am exceedingly anxious to prove to myself, as to others, that I am not played out as a composer.” Judge for yourself, but there’s a reason this monumental piece makes a great season finale: some of the loveliest tunes ever written, leading to a smashing and triumphant finale. The main challenge most audiences have is holding back their applause until the very end!