The Berlin Staatskapelle String Quartet opens the season, joined by pianists Elisabeth Leonskaja and Michael Wendeberg. The program is centered around two masterpieces of the chamber music repertoire: Joseph Haydn’s highly original D-major String Quartet of 1772 and Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet, written 70 years later and dedicated to the composer’s wife, Clara. For the latter work, Leonskaja takes on the piano part. Pierre Boulez’s groundbreaking Douze Notations, performed by Wendeberg, provide an exciting contrast. With these 12 piano studies, composed in 1945, the 20-year-old Boulez launched his career.

It is with great regret that Daniel Barenboim had to cancel his participation in this concert for health reasons. He continues to recover from the effects of a vasculitis diagnosed last spring and has made this decision on the advice of his doctors.