ENSEMBLE Q PRESENTS: Ensemble Q Play Bartók & Brahms
A vivid journey through Bartók's brilliance, Sutherland's lyricism and Brahms' sweeping romantic power.
Venue: Touring show, showing at multiple venues
Address: Touring show, showing at multiple venues
Date: 21 - 23 August
Web: https://www.ensembleqaustralia.com/nationalconcertseries.html
EMail: ensembleqaustralia@gmail.com
Call: 07 3365 3619
Address: Touring show, showing at multiple venues
Date: 21 - 23 August
Web: https://www.ensembleqaustralia.com/nationalconcertseries.html
EMail: ensembleqaustralia@gmail.com
Call: 07 3365 3619
Daniel de Borah Ensmeble Q pianist
One of Australia's most celebrated chamber ensembles, Ensemble Q, continues its 2026 National Concert Series with a program of compelling contrasts and expressive power taking over Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre and University of Queensland.
Béla Bartók's Contrasts ignites the program with a virtuosic trio for clarinet, violin and piano. Infused with Hungarian and Romanian folk influences, the work is raw, playful and rhythmically unpredictable. Margaret Sutherland's Nocturne offers a striking change of mood, turning inward with shimmering softness and suspended lines that reveal a composer of striking subtlety, brought to life by violinist Adam Chalabi.
Rounding out the concert is Brahms' Piano Quartet in C minor Op.60, an emotionally charged and deeply romantic work whose sombre beauty and soaring lyricism echo his lifelong, unspoken love for Clara Schumann.
The program features pianist Daniel de Borah, a founding member of Ensemble Q Australia and leading Australian musician. Since his prize-winning appearances at the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition, Daniel has given recitals on four continents and toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Australia. As a concerto soloist he has appeared with the English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmanian, Adelaide and Auckland Symphony Orchestras. Daniel's passion for chamber music is peaked in this program that offers fiery virtuosity in the Bartók, serenity in the Sutherland and one of his very favourite works, the deeply romantic Brahms C minor piano quartet.
Internationally acclaimed UK violist Benjamin Roskams has travelled to Australia especially to join Ensemble Q and the Australian World Orchestra for their 2026 seasons. This multi-talented musician has held prestigious positions on both violin and viola, from engagements as Concertmaster with leading German orchestras, to Principal Viola for the First Night of the Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Alongside Ensemble Q Australia musicians at their peak, this is chamber music at its most vivid, expressive and exhilarating.
Paul Dean clarinet
Adam Chalabi violin
Benjamin Roskams viola
Trish Dean cello
Contrasts
Margaret Sutherland
Nocturne
Johannes Brahms
Piano Quartet in C minor
Ensemble Q Play Bartók & Brahms
Location: Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
Tickets: $15 - $78
Buy Tickets: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/classical-music/ensemble-q-play-bartok-brahms
Location: Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre
Tickets: $30-$75
Buy Tickets: https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/whats-on/current-productions/ensemble-q-play-bartok-and-brahms
Location: GHD Auditorium, University of Queensland
Tickets: $20 - $65
Buy tickets: https://www.ensembleqaustralia.com/sundaysbythelake-655266.html
Béla Bartók's Contrasts ignites the program with a virtuosic trio for clarinet, violin and piano. Infused with Hungarian and Romanian folk influences, the work is raw, playful and rhythmically unpredictable. Margaret Sutherland's Nocturne offers a striking change of mood, turning inward with shimmering softness and suspended lines that reveal a composer of striking subtlety, brought to life by violinist Adam Chalabi.
Rounding out the concert is Brahms' Piano Quartet in C minor Op.60, an emotionally charged and deeply romantic work whose sombre beauty and soaring lyricism echo his lifelong, unspoken love for Clara Schumann.
The program features pianist Daniel de Borah, a founding member of Ensemble Q Australia and leading Australian musician. Since his prize-winning appearances at the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition, Daniel has given recitals on four continents and toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Australia. As a concerto soloist he has appeared with the English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmanian, Adelaide and Auckland Symphony Orchestras. Daniel's passion for chamber music is peaked in this program that offers fiery virtuosity in the Bartók, serenity in the Sutherland and one of his very favourite works, the deeply romantic Brahms C minor piano quartet.
Internationally acclaimed UK violist Benjamin Roskams has travelled to Australia especially to join Ensemble Q and the Australian World Orchestra for their 2026 seasons. This multi-talented musician has held prestigious positions on both violin and viola, from engagements as Concertmaster with leading German orchestras, to Principal Viola for the First Night of the Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Alongside Ensemble Q Australia musicians at their peak, this is chamber music at its most vivid, expressive and exhilarating.
ARTISTS
Daniel de Borah pianoPaul Dean clarinet
Adam Chalabi violin
Benjamin Roskams viola
Trish Dean cello
PROGRAM
Béla BartókContrasts
Margaret Sutherland
Nocturne
Johannes Brahms
Piano Quartet in C minor
Ensemble Q Play Bartók & Brahms
SYDNEY
Dates: Friday 21 August, 2026, 7.00pmLocation: Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
Tickets: $15 - $78
Buy Tickets: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/classical-music/ensemble-q-play-bartok-brahms
MELBOURNE
Dates: Saturday 22 August, 2026, 7.00pmLocation: Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre
Tickets: $30-$75
Buy Tickets: https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/whats-on/current-productions/ensemble-q-play-bartok-and-brahms
BRISBANE
Dates: Sunday 23 August, 2026, 3.00pmLocation: GHD Auditorium, University of Queensland
Tickets: $20 - $65
Buy tickets: https://www.ensembleqaustralia.com/sundaysbythelake-655266.html