A Unique Experience at the Palau de la Música
Last June 4, the chamber season of the Palau de la Música hosted an extraordinary concert. The renowned Cosmos Quartet, a premier chamber ensemble, offered a unique musical experience by doubling the number of players with the addition of clarinet, bassoon, horn and double bass. This extension allowed the interpretation of two octets: that of Jörg Widmann and that of Franz Schubert.
The Magic of the Octet
The octet is an instrumental arrangement that fuses chamber music with symphonic music. During the concert, the combination of a string quintet with double bass and three wind instruments created the effect of a small chamber orchestra. Each instrument claimed its space and prominence, giving more to the first violin and the clarinet.
The Octet by Jörg Widmann
Jörg Widmann’s Octet, a tonal work that starts from tradition to deconstruct and reinterpret it, captivated the audience. The clarinet, played by Widmann himself, led a dialogue full of tension and strength with the other instruments, creating an atmosphere of intense desolation.
Franz Schubert’s Octet
Franz Schubert, the creator of the Cambrian octet genre, inspired Widmann’s work. The Octet in F major, D. 803, captivated the audience with Beethovenian echoes, transporting them to the era of the Viennese salons.
The Instrumentalists’ Virtuosity
The concert highlighted the virtuosity of the instrumentalists, especially Miquel Ramos on the first violin, who captivated the audience’s attention with a sweet, delicate and luminous sound. The cohesion of the eight musicians created a lavish and brilliant concert, worthy of the most distinguished Viennese salons.