Since 2024, CMAS has embarked on a series of projects taking place over these five years to commemorate a golden era of classical chamber music, reflecting on the enduring impact of the treasure trove of works created in this genre, brought forth for humanity by the great composers for precisely two centuries since.

“It would be impossible for Chamber Music and Arts Singapore to let go of such an opportune time in history – to take these five years – to look back exactly two centuries into the golden period of chamber music and the treasure trove of works this period brought forth for humanity. As like for literary works, paintings and visual art, as well as architecture of historical significance, CMAS has a responsibility to offer Singaporeans the opportunity to connect as a part of humanity with great masters of the past – by ensuring that works from this golden period of chamber music can be visited and re-visited by Singaporeans in LIVE performances within different settings of accessibility.” — Artistic Director Tang Tee Khoon

These five years will see CMAS bring audiences on a travel through this epoch, as the charity revisits sublime chamber music works created in the last years of Beethoven and Schubert’s lives – and the early years of Mendelssohn – through 1824 and concluding with 1828, the final year of Schubert’s life when he produced his Cello Quintet ~ one of the few summits of all chamber music creations.

“Until the last year of his passing in 1827, Beethoven turned away from symphonies and larger scale works like piano concerti or even sonatas for his instrument – the piano – in favour of chamber music and specifically the string quartet, a genre he had not touched in the last ten years. His set of late string quartets make up the pinnacle of this genre. One cannot speak of chamber music without closely studying this collection of works and the final years of Beethoven’s life.” — Artistic Director Tang Tee Khoon

And 1825 marked the beginning of these last three years of Beethoven’s life.