Saint Rose Camerata Recital: Chamber Music of the 19th and 20th Centuries

 

To open its 17th season, the Saint Rose Camerata presents a charming potpourri of chamber music from the last two centuries.

Showcasing the budding artistry of contemporary American composer Juliana Hall (b. 1958), “Bells and Grass” for soprano and oboe (1989) depicts five intimate scenes from everyday life. From the song of a nightingale and the musical sounds of rain, to sunbeams on the ocean and moonbeams on a stream, these songs about life’s simple pleasures are set to texts by English poet Walter de la Mare (1873-1956).

On the other end of the spectrum is the Sonata in D, No. 5, for cello and piano, Op. 102, No. 2 (1815) by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), who would have turned 250 this year. Written during Beethoven’s transition to his “third period,” as the composer pushed aside established Classical conventions and developed a completely new approach to his art, the piece is notable for its visionary character and musical complexity.

Rounding out the program are works by Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) and Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959), both written during the Czech composers’ visits to the United States. Martinů’s Madrigal Sonata for flute, violin, and piano (1942) is marked by catchy syncopations, textural variety, and vigorous rhythmic interest. Dvořák wrote his Sonatina in G, Op. 100, for violin and piano (1893) to cater to the abilities of his children, 15-year-old Ottilie and 10-year-old Toník. The piece was composed in New York City, with the exception of the Larghetto movement, which the composer hurriedly sketched out on his shirt sleeve during a trip to Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

Performers include David Bebe, cello; Susan Boddie, soprano; Amanda Brin, violin; Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough, flute; Young Kim, piano; Sherwood Wise, oboe; and Josiah Stocker, piano.

EVENT DETAILS
What: Saint Rose Camerata Performs Chamber Music of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
When: 7:30 p.m., February 15, 2020
Where: Massry Center for the Arts
Cost: Free and open to the public

NEWS BRIEF VERSION
Join the Saint Rose Camerata for their season opener of intimate, charming chamber music. The program, featuring American composer Juliana Hall, Czech composers Antonin Dvořák and Bohuslav Martinů, and the great Ludwig van Beethoven, offers a musical journey through the artistry and genius of these very different composers. The concert, at 7:30 p.m. on February 15 at the Massry Center for the Arts, is open to the public and free of charge. www.massrycenter.org