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© Oskar Schmidt
Paganini Ensemble
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November 2025 | ||||||
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Chamber Music with Passion
After last year’s great success, the Paganini Ensemble returns to the Vienna Musikverein. Under the direction of the internationally acclaimed Paganini interpreter Mario Hossen, the ensemble devotes itself to those rarely performed chamber music masterpieces by Nicolò Paganini that unite supreme virtuosity with Italian bel canto and subtle sound poetry.
The program is enriched by two world premieres from Alessandro Solbiatti and Rainer Bischof, opening a contemporary dialogue with Paganini’s legacy, as well as a tribute to Fritz Kreisler on the occasion of his 150th birthday.
An evening of historical depth and modern inspiration – passionate, virtuosic, moving.
Program and cast
Paganini Ensemble
Mario Hossen – Violin, Artistic Director
Marta Potulska – Viola
Liliana Kehayova – Cello
Alexander Swete – Guitar
Program
Niccolò Paganini – Quartet No. 2 in C Major, op. 4, M.S. 29
Niccolò Paganini – Terzetto concertante for Viola, Cello, and Guitar, M.S. 114
Alessandro Solbiatti – Ghirribizzi (World Premiere, Commission)
Intermission
Niccolò Paganini – Introduzione e Variazioni on “Nel cor più non mi sento,” M.S. 44 (Violin Solo)
Fritz Kreisler – Liebesleid & Liebesfreud (150th Anniversary)
Rainer Bischof – Quartetto in Modo di Paganini (World Premiere, Commission)
Niccolò Paganini – Quartet No. 9 in B-flat Major, M.S. 35
Musikverein Brahms Hall
For many years, this hall was known only as the “Kleine Musikvereinssaal”, until in 1937, during the 125th anniversary year of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien, it was given a name that truly reflects its importance: the Brahms Saal. Johannes Brahms not only performed in person in this hall, he was also behind the very first concert to be performed here, by Clara Schumann on 19 January 1870. The standards set that day have been maintained ever since. The Brahms Saal remains one of the most prized locations for the greatest chamber music ensembles and lieder singers performing in the world today.
With just under of 600 seats, the hall is designed to showcase the intimate aspects of classical music. The hall acoustics are perfectly attuned to deliver this: the Brahms Saal – 32.50 metres long, 10.30 metres wide und 11 metres high – possesses a similar acoustic brilliance to the Große Musikvereinssaal.
When the Musiverein building was opened in 1870, the Kleine Musikvereinssaal was described as a “true little treasure chest”. It was even suggested that this hall might warrant greater praise and wonderment than the Große Musikvereinssaal: “One might even wish to award the prize to this hall for its peacefulness and simple grandeur.” It is abundantly clear that Theophil Hansen’s design for the Brahms Saal created an architectonic masterpiece of the Historicism period. His commitment to the “Greek Renaissance”, evident in the design’s allusions to classical Hellas, make this concert hall an authentic temple of chamber music.
In 1993 the Brahms Saal underwent a comprehensive restoration programme. The restoration project involved consulting the original designs held at the Print Room at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. This made it possible to reconstruct the original colour scheme created by Hansen as the Musikverein’s architect: green walls, red columns and the liberal use of gold.
When the Brahms Saal reopened to the public in its new form in 1993, a Vienna newspaper wrote: “Without wishing to raise expectations too high, this has been transformed into the most beautiful, magnificent and prestigious chamber music concert hall we are likely to find anywhere in the world.”
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