Hope Street Ensemble: The Classical Inheritance 1

Hope Street Ensemble are playing the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Monday 14 December, as part of their The Classical Inheritance series. It's a lunchtime concert, which is a handy one to slot into the middle of a working day rather than waiting until the evening.

The programme brings together two works written at turning points in each composer's life, both described as intense pieces with a strong sense of reflection. Beethoven's String Quartet No.11 in F minor, Op.95, known as the 'Serioso', is the tighter, more dramatic of the two. Brahms' String Quintet No.2 in G major, Op.111 is broader and warmer, with a feeling of late-life richness. Heard together, they're presented as two different responses to inner struggle: one fierce and compressed, the other expansive and thought-provoking.

Six players make up the ensemble for this one: Emily Mowbray and Qian Wu on violin, Ben Newton and Rachel Jones on viola, and Alexander Holladay on cello. The Beethoven is a quartet, while the Brahms is a quintet, so they'll be shifting the line-up between the two.

It's in the Music Room, rather than the main hall, and runs for an hour. Tickets start from £13, and it kicks off at 13:00 on Monday 14 December.