ARTISTS
Jennifer Frautschi violin
Sophia Stoyanovich violin*
Bethany Hargreaves viola*
Dimitri Murrath viola
Kelcey Howell cello*
Matthew Zalkind cello
Julio Elizalde piano
Chelsea Wang piano*
*2021 Olympic Chamber Music Fellow
PROGRAM
Ravel La Valse (arr. Graban)
Chausson Piano Quartet in A major, Op. 30
Fauré Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15
La Belle Époque was a period of time in late 19th century and early 20th century France overflowing with optimism, prosperity, and astonishing artistic beauty. These three works capture that spirit beginning with Maurice Ravel’s exploration of the Viennese waltz as seen through an impressionistic lens in La Valse. Ernest Chausson is most famous for his ravishing Poeme for violin and orchestra but his piano quartet is a hidden gem in French chamber music with intoxicating lyricism. Gabriel Fauré is seen as a critical link between the elegant romanticism of Camille Saint-Saëns and the groundbreaking explorations of Debussy and Ravel. His first piano quartet is a perfect snapshot in time as French composers were beginning to experiment with more exotic colors and a wider range of emotion.
Enjoy commentary from the festival artists and 2021 Olympic Chamber Music Fellows about the compositions on the program and the behind-the-scenes insights about rehearsing these incredible compositions.
This concert is generously sponsored by Thornburgh Insurance Agency.
