Music at McClelland - Souvenirs: Brahms + Tchaikovsky String Sextets

Two romantic masters, two deeply personal works, and one rarely heard configuration – this program for string sextet offers an intimate glimpse into the emotional and musical lives of Brahms and Tchaikovsky.

Brahms’ Sextet No.1 in B-flat major, written in his late twenties, blends youthful lyricism with the emerging hallmarks of his mature style: rich textures, rhythmic intricacy, and exquisite writing for strings. Written in the shadow of emotional upheaval, the work feels both generous and intimate - chamber music of immense warmth, depth, and quiet resilience, where six voices speak with a singular sense of unity.

Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence opens with bold, almost operatic intensity from its first bars. Composed at the height of his fame, it captures the sunlit vibrancy of Italy alongside the drama and passion of his Russian heritage. Whilst its title suggests a simple memento, this is instead a vivid remembrance - full of colour, movement, and life, and demanding emotionally charged technical brilliance from each performer.

Music at McClelland is generously supported by Igor Zambelli, Mary-Jane Gething AO and The Robert Salzer Foundation. It is a seated event and is held in the Sarah and Baillieu Myer Education Pavilion.