Mixed Blessings
Saturday, March 24, 2007, 8 PM Insights from the Conductor, 7 PM |
Sunday, March 25, 2007, 7 PM Insights from the Conductor, 6 PM |
This concert of musical blessings for mixed chamber ensembles includes a charming late romantic work by Farrenc, a witty modern work by Françaix, and a world tour by Block.
“Mixed Blessings” is a concert of three pieces for mixed chamber ensemble. Each of these compositions represents the composer’s concept of a miniature chamber orchestra, featuring sections of strings combined with winds and piano. The result is at once both symphonic and intimate. France’s Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) was best known in her own age as both a virtuoso pianist and gifted composer. Her Nonet is rooted in classical models such as the Schubert Octet and Beethoven Septet, but also displays a deft command of romantic melody and great harmonic refinement. A much later composer, Jean Françaix (1912-1997), was one of the most immediately appealing composers of the 20th Century. His Octet was commissioned in 1972 by the Vienna Octet and is inscribed by the composer “To the revered memory of Franz Schubert.” Like the Schubert’s Octet, Française’s is always charming and lyrically beautiful, but never trivial. Ernest Bloch (1880-1959), although a native Swiss, was a cosmopolitan student of music, studying in Brussels, Frankfurt and Paris before the rising specter of anti-Semitism forced him to immigrate to America during World War I. His 4 Episodes (1926) is an engaging study of differing aspects of emotive character and place, ending inexplicably but delightfully in “Chinese.”
Louise Farrenc
Nonet, for Strings and Winds
Jean Françaix
Octet, for Strings and Winds
Ernst Block
Four Episodes, for Strings, Winds and Piano
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Louise Farrenc |
Jean Françaix |
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In This Section:
Conductor’s Message
Insights from the Conductor
Wine, Women & Song