2025–2026
our 30th & final season
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
September 21, 2025
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Variations on a Theme by Gluck, for Solo Piano, K455
Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major, K526
Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C Major, K548
Three of our favorite works by the immortal boy wonder: a delightful set of piano variations, a high-spirited sonata for violin and piano, and a rarely-heard (and very elegant) trio for strings and piano—all performed on our world-class Viennese Rosenberger fortepiano and original string instruments. You’ll be among the first to experience the newly-renovated Duncan Recital Hall!
stephanie chase, violin; norman fischer, cello; brian connelly, 1810 rosenberger fortepiano.
FROM THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE
October 19, 2025
ROGER QUILTER
Songs from the Arnold Songbook of Old English Tunes, for Baritone & Piano
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Quintet for Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, & Piano
Bring your hankies, because you’ll probably cry when you hear bass-baritone Timothy Jones sing songs from Roger Quilter’s ‘Arnold Songbook’: big-hearted melodies like ‘Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes’, ‘My Lady Greensleeves’, and ‘The Ash Tree’. With one of our most favorite chamber works (that we haven’t yet had the chance to play for you): Ralph Vaughan Williams’ youthful and impassioned Quintet for Strings and Piano.
timothy jones, bass-baritone; alexander woods, violin; joan derhovsepian, viola; michael kannen, cello; erik gronfor, double bass; brian connelly, steinway piano
SCHUBERT HAND PARTY
November 23, 2024
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Selected Works for Piano Four-hands
Sonata in B-flat Major for Solo Piano
Our patron saint, Franz Schubert, wrote more 2- and 4-hand piano masterpieces than we’ve ever been able to present. Here are the works we still most want to play for you! Kimi Kawashima and Jason Hardink present a selection of Schubert’s richly textured and endlessly inventive piano duets, and Brian Connelly will play Franz’s great B-flat Sonata for solo piano.
jason hardink, kimi kawashima, brian connelly, and our magnificent viennese graf fortepiano from schubert’s time
FROM DÉSESPOIR TO EXTASE
January 25, 2026
CÉCILE CHAMINADE
Trio in A Minor for Violin, Cello, & Piano
GABRIEL FAURÉ
Quartet in G Minor for Violin, Viola, Cello, & Piano
From despair to ecstasy! Our over-the-top program of French Romanticism will warm up your winter! A dramatic and charming Trio by the celebrated composer (and dazzling pianist) Cécile Chaminade, followed by the glorious 2nd Quartet for Piano and Strings by Gabriel Fauré.
maureen nelson, violin, joan derhovsepian, viola; richard belcher, cello; brian connelly, steinway piano
THE WELL-TEMPERED FORTEPIANO
February 22, 2026
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Selected Works
Brian Connelly shares an intimate afternoon of J.S. Bach’s buoyant, graceful, and personal works for solo keyboard, performed on two of Context’s gorgeous historical pianos.
brian connelly, 1810 rosenberger & 1826 graf fortepianos
JOHANNES BRAHMS
March 29, 2026
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Trio in C Minor for Violin, Cello, & Piano
Quintet in F Minor for Strings & Piano
It has to end with Brahms! Celebrate Context’s final concert season with beloved masterpieces by one of our most cherished mastercomposers! Brahms’ late Trio in C Minor starts the show; and the grand finale will be the immortal—and thrilling—Quintet for Piano and Strings all on the kind of instruments Brahms’ first audiences would have heard.
stephanie chase & alexander woods, violin; joan derhovsepian, viola; jean-michel fonteneau, cello;
brian connelly, 1852 bösendorfer piano
PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
“Music-making at its most captivating”
The Houston Chronicle
Support and Major Funding Provided by:
The Brown Foundation
The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts
The Wortham Foundation