Arnold Schoenberg’s “Society for Private Musical Performances” led to several large scale works being arranged for chamber ensembles creating an immense challenge for the arranger to keep the essence of the work with many fewer forces. These arrangements were so successful they have begun to enter the mainstream and this version of Mahler 4 is one of the best.

Do take this opportunity to hear a Mahler Symphony in Penarth. A rare occurrence indeed!

Folk music permeates through this programme as well, with Shostakovich’s sound world drawing on the traditional music of the Russian Jewish people, and Brahms paying no small tribute to Hungarian traditional music in this, his final piece of chamber music.

Shostakovich - 2 Pieces for String Octet Op. 11

David Adams - violin, Donald Grant - violin, Mathilde Milwidsky - violin, Stephanie Gonley - violin, Alinka Rowe - viola, Joel Hunter - viola, Rebecca Gilliver - cello, Alice Neary - cello

Brahms - Clarinet Quintet Op. 115

Robert Plane - clarinet, Mathilde Milwidsky - violin, Donald Grant - violin, Alinka Rowe - viola, Rebecca Gillver - cello

Mahler - Symphony no. 4 arr. Stein

Ryan Bancroft - conductor, Rebecca Evans - soprano
David Adams - violin, Stephanie Gonley - violin, Joel Hunter - viola, Alice Neary - cello, David Stark - double bass
Matthew Featherstone - flute, Steven Hudson - oboe, Robert Plane - clarinet
Robin Green & Enoch Wong - piano, Viv McLean - harmonium, Phil Girling & Andy Cookson - percussion

Tickets £22.50 (or £27.50 double bill with Discovering Music) and free for 8-25 year olds