Program:

– Johannes Helstone (1853–1927) – Mazurka brillante op 7 – solo piano

–Theodoor Neumann Cordua (1860–1911) – Piano Trio in A-flat major, Op. 6

–Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) – Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8

Vienna in the late 19th century was a city of traditions, yet also a place of encounter and exchange. At its musical heart stood Johannes Brahms, revered as the guardian of form and depth in an age of change. Alongside him, and surprisingly little known today, we find Theodoor Neumann Cordua: born in Paramaribo, Suriname, and trained in Vienna, where he absorbed the spirit of late Romantic chamber music.

Cordua’s Piano Trio in A-flat (1885) resonates with the warmth and lyricism of the Viennese tradition, while reflecting the remarkable journey of a Surinamese-born composer making his voice heard in Europe’s cultural capital. Heard next to Brahms’ revised Piano Trio in B major, we experience Vienna both as a stronghold of tradition and as a crossroads where voices from afar could take root.

This program gains a special layer of meaning through pianist Roderigo Robles de Medina, whose Surinamese roots connect him directly to this heritage. His recording of works by Johannes Helstone (1853–1927), another Surinamese composer who sought recognition in Europe, adds a living voice to this long-overlooked musical lineage.

To get an idea about music composed by Cordua

Program:

– Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 1 No. 1

– Antonín Dvořák – Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 90, “Dumky”

This program spans almost a hundred years of musical history, from the Classical dawn of the piano trio to its late-Romantic flowering.

Beethoven’s Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 1 No. 1, published in 1795, was a bold debut for the young composer in Vienna. With wit, elegance, and symphonic scope, it announced Beethoven as the heir to Haydn and Mozart—yet already with a voice of his own.

Nearly a century later, Antonín Dvořák’s Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 90, “Dumky” (1891) reimagined the genre entirely. Inspired by Slavic folk songs and dances, each of its six movements shifts between melancholy introspection and fiery exuberance. The Dumky is a deeply emotional work, rooted in Bohemian tradition, and one of Dvořák’s most beloved chamber pieces.

Together, these works form a musical arc across the 19th century—an echo of transformation from Classical elegance to Romantic passion.

Program:

• A. Dvorak: Minatures: Cavatina; Capriccio; Romance
• L. v Beethoven: Serenade op. 25: arrangement for 2 violins and viola
• Z. Kodály: Serenade op. 12 for 2 violins and viola

As evening falls and the light begins to soften, an intimate musical world unfolds in which three string players share their voices. A Serenade Beneath the Stars invites you into a journey of lyrical miniatures, elegant serenades, and deeply expressive sounds from the heart of Central Europe.

Antonín Dvořák opens the program with his refined Miniatures: brief, characterful pieces filled with warmth and melodic charm. Beethoven’s Serenade op. 25, performed here in an arrangement for two violins and viola, combines elegance and playfulness with moments of quiet reflection. The evening concludes with Zoltán Kodály’s powerful Serenade op. 12, where Hungarian folk influences, raw energy, and poetic depth merge into a compelling musical statement.

This program is like an evening stroll beneath a stars: at times light and graceful, at others intense and contemplative, music that feels close and lingers long after the final note.