The MSU College of Music will celebrate the masterful chamber works of Johannes Brahms in the second concert of the treasured Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series on Monday, December 5th at 7:30 p.m. in Fairchild Theatre. Click here for tickets.

A maestro of musical language and form, Johannes Brahms composed in every medium from full symphonies to works for solo piano during the mid-Romantic period. The Beauty of Brahms will focus on the chamber works of Brahms—many of which are beloved by musicians and audiences worldwide and counted among his greatest masterpieces.

Born in 1883 in Hamburg, Germany, Brahms is sometimes grouped with Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven as one of the “Three Bs” of music. The virtuoso pianist debuted at age 14 and performed many of his own compositions and arrangements in his recitals. Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna where he worked as a composer, pianist and conductor. He is considered both a traditionalist and an innovator, and his music is rooted in the structures and compositional techniques of the Classical masters. Many of his works have become staples of the modern concert repertoire and have inspired generations of composers. 

The concert will include selections from Hungarian Dances arranged by Brahms for piano four hands. The program also features the Sonata in E-flat Major for piano and clarinet, and the Brahms Piano Quintet. Performing artists are pianists Deborah Moriarty, Zhihua Tang, and Eric Zuber; clarinetist Mingzhe Wang; violist Eric Nowlin; cellist Suren Bagratuni; and violinists Yvonne Lam and I-Fu Wang.

“The College of Music is delighted to showcase Brahms chamber works and to feature the talents and virtuosity of our wonderful musicians here at the MSU College of Music,” said Deborah Moriarty, pianist and artistic director of the series. “The West Circle Series is a beloved gem of our music calendar through the enduring and generous support of Joanne and Bill Church. We invite you to join us in this lovely and inspiring concert during our 13th annual season.” 

Additional upcoming West Circle Series Concerts in the 2022-23 season include:

• Happy Birthday, Mozart!  Monday, January 30th, 7:30 p.m. Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium Generously sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Roy Meland.
• All American. Monday, April 3rd, 7:30 p.m. Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium Generously sponsored by Mike and Midge Morrow.

Joanne and Bill Church sponsor the West Circle Series. Special thanks are also due to sponsors Mary and Patrick McPharlin for making “The Beauty of Brahms” concert possible. 
 
Reserved seating for this and other concerts in the Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors (age 60 and older), and $7 for students and those under 18 with valid ID, and can be purchased online (music.msu.edu), by calling (517) 353-5340, or at the door. More information on these and other events in the 2022-23 Encore! Season can be found at music.msu.edu/events

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Press materials

View or download the press release (PDF)
Contact Michael Sundermann, 517-353-2043, sunderm7@msu.edu 

Photography and graphic downloads

The second concert of the West Circle Series will feature chamber music penned by Brahms with a program that includes Hungarian Dances, Sonata in E-flat Major for piano and clarinet, and the Piano Quintet. Graphic courtesy MSU College of Music

The Beauty of Brahms concert features instrumentation that ranges from piano four-hands to piano with clarinet, and a piano quintet (two violins, viola, and cello). Photo by Harley Seeley.