“Contrasts” is an evocative journey through Romantic and 20thcentury
chamber music featuring Boston Symphony clarinetist
Christopher Elchico, pianists Angela Kim, Xiaopei Xu, Clemens
Teufel and violinist Clara Kim, as well as soprano Olha
Abakumova. The program begins with Robert Schumann’s Four
Piano Pieces, Op. 32, a set of characterful miniatures for solo
piano that blend lyrical invention with contrapuntal mastership,
offering a glimpse into Schumann’s imaginative and introspective
world. Christopher Elchico and Xiaopei Xu join forces for
Johannes Brahms’s Clarinet Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 120 No.
2, a late masterpiece filled with warmth, intimacy, and expressive
dialogues and contrasts between clarinet and piano.
After the intermission, which allows the audience to venture into
the Redwoods current exhibition, Olha Abakumova, Christopher
Elchico, and Xiaopei Xu collaborate on Schubert’s beloved The
Shepherd on the Rock, a unique work for soprano, clarinet, and
piano that moves from melancholy reflection to the hope of
spring’s renewal. The evening concludes with Bartók’s
electrifying Contrasts, featuring Christopher Elchico, Clara Kim,
and Angela Kim. Commissioned by Benny Goodman and Joseph
Szigeti, this trio draws on Hungarian and Romanian folk idioms,
weaving virtuosic rhythms and vivid colors into a tour de force of
20th-century chamber music.
This concert offers a rare opportunity to experience both beloved
masterpieces and lesser-heard treasures, brought to life by a
dynamic ensemble of acclaimed performers.
Tuesday, June 24th
6:30
Harrison Room
