Karl Miller wrote:

>Some of our concerts are given in private homes.  The audience is
>therefore limited to about 40 people or so.  No water bottles, but
>we do offer free wine at intermission and more wine and food after
>the concert.  With the programs in such a setting, it seems to deter
>the noise one usually associates with usual concert venues.

One thought I've had about this situation in relation to unfamiliar
chambermusic is this:

Before the concert, yet while the musicians are assembled, ask each
musician to play a favorite passage or two, either solo or with the
others.  And the person who is giving the talk can also chose a few
favorite passages for the group to play.  I don't think the reason for
the choice is necessary to explain to the audience, but it might be very
interesting to hear why the musicians enjoy them.  It will also have a
reinforcing effect when that passage comes up again in performance.

Another very good thing to do with unfamiliar music is to play it twice!
You might not get away with doing the whole work in a concert, but
certainly a movement can be done again.  You might also have the musicians
sit differently for the repetition.  Different balance...  new scenery.

Mimi Ezust