Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: two of the great Romantics. Born on the same date (May 7) and separated by seven years, their music represents a stunning contrast. Brahms’s heavy, intricate, skillfully crafted works are the natural outgrowth of his Germanic tradition, represented by Bach and Beethoven before him. Tchaikovsky, who was younger, Russian, and tragically closeted, wrote music of the heart, centered on emotion and athleticism rather than intellect. And he resented the elder Brahms’s success, calling him “a giftless bastard” and “a conceited mediocrity” in his diary. That was before the two met up for dinner, on New Year’s Day 1888, and … had a great time. Brahms was coarser in person than Tchaikovsky expected, smoking cigars and letting the ash fall in his beard. Tchaikovsky came off more refined, smoking high-quality cigarettes. Both drank a lot. And they met at least one more time to do the same.

So, want to come hear their music?

Tickets $20 (Students $5)

Benicia Chamber Players

Johannes Brahms | Sextet in G Major, op. 36
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky | Sextet in D Minor, op. 70, “Souvenir de Florence”

Elbert Tsai, violin
Rochelle Nguyen, violin
Christina Simpson, viola
Alexandra Simpson, viola
James Jaffe, cello
Brady Anderson, cello