— An echo of traditions.
This year's spring season is rounded off with a programme where past and present meet with great artistic power. Where Franz Schubert's popular octet (1824) is an unparalleled courtship of the public, German Jörg Widmann has both paid tribute to and reinvented the classical-romantic masterpiece through his octet from 2004. Welcome to classical tradition — and detachment!
We have invited the young Belgian clarinetist Pierre Xhonneux to curate the program, which offers a fascinating dialogue between impulses from both past and present, tradition and innovation. He has a solid team of colleagues from the Oslo Philharmonic with him. We are looking forward to it!
Guro Asheim violin
Brage Sæbø violin
Nanna Ikutomi Sørli viola
Johannes Martens cello
Nicholas Chalk double bass
Pierre Xhonneux clarinet
Linn Cecilie Sletten Ringstad bassoon
James Patterson horn
Duration approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes including intermission.
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Franz Schubert (1797—1828)
Octet in F major, D. 803Jörg Widmann (b. 1973)
Octet (2004) -
Franz Schubert's Octet in F major, D. 803, stands as one of the highlights of 19th-century chamber music. Commissioned by Count Ferdinand Troyer, a clarinetist and admirer of Beethoven, the work was modeled after Beethoven's septet, but expanded to eight instruments (clarinet, bassoon, horn, two violins, viola, cello, and double bass).
The octet demonstrates Schubert's lyrical genius and his ability to create grand structures imbued with melodic beauty. Through six movements we experience excitement, tenderness and drama — all the while anchored in Schubert's unmistakable melodic style. The work is both intimate and symphonic, and Schubert's capacity for emotional depth is particularly evident in the poignant variation movement.
Jörg Widmann , one of Germany's most sought-after composers and clarinetists today, is often in musical dialogue with the past. His 2004 octet draws inspiration from Schubert's work, but while retaining the same instrumentation, he rediscovers the classic octet through the eyes of the 21st century—blending historical echoes with modern techniques.
The work begins with a haunting reference to Schubert’s harmonic world before abruptly changing direction into a kaleidoscope of special playing techniques, sudden contrasts and intense energy. It plays with memories and distortion; the music feels recognizable and classical, but at the same time fragmented and disintegrated. The tension between nostalgia and modernity runs through the entire work, as if Schubert’s voice is trying to penetrate Widmann’s modern soundscape.
Juxtaposing these two octets allows us to hear how musical tradition evolves while remaining deeply connected. Schubert’s octet represents the height of early Romanticism, reveling in long, flowing melodies and elegant structures. Widmann, in turn, takes this foundation and breaks it up, reshaping and questioning Schubert’s language and tradition—and we get the chance to experience music as both continuity and reinvention.
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When Jörg Widmann's music takes over University Aula This early Sunday in May, the audience is invited on a special journey of discovery. As an internationally celebrated clarinetist, composer and conductor, Widmann is among the most groundbreaking artists of our time.
In a world where music is often divided into fixed genres and traditions, Widmann stands out as an innovator. His works invite listeners to explore a musical universe where past and present merge.
Widmann's search for new ideas and sounds is clearly inspired by literature and art. He describes each of his compositions as an exploration of choices, spontaneous whims and new soundscapes. Thus his fascination with labyrinths becomes a beautiful metaphor for both music and life: "The important thing is not whether you go right or wrong, but that you actually go — in art as in life."
This labyrinthine approach is reflected in his compositions and opens up a deeper understanding of the complexity of music.
This concert will feature one of his most acclaimed works alongside its source of inspiration: Schubert's famous octet from 1824. Here, Widmann weaves traditional forms with modern sonic experiments, breathing new life into Schubert's melodious and harmonically rich work. Widmann's exploration of timbre, texture and dramatic structure adds a modern touch while preserving the essence of the original work.
Regardless of whether you are a keen classical music enthusiast or curious about the unknown: At this concert, we dare to promise that you will be both surprised and moved.
— Isa Katharina Gericke (2025)
Welcome to a unique musical experience!
Photo: John-Halvdan Olsen-Halvorsen