July 24, 2019

8:00 pm | Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall

Concert Overview | 8:00pm


Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major, Op. 12 No. 2

Dedicated to his teacher Antonio Salieri (he of Amadeus fame), this set of violin sonatas was his first. Featuring playful banter between the musicians it builds to a thrilling crescendo.


selections from 8 Duets for Violin and Cello, Op. 39

These short pieces display the height of Russian Romanticism with beautiful melodic lines and a rich dialogue between the instruments.


Passacaglia for Violin and Cello in G minor (arr. Halvorsen)

Adapted from a keyboard suite by Handel, this piece is a perennial favorite that requires extreme virtuosity by both musicians.


Nocturne et Cortège

Lili Boulanger was the first female to win the Prix de Rome. These two short works are great contrasts as one is a lullaby the other a grand procession.


Quartet for Piano and Strings in C minor, Op. 13

Strauss’ works often have a narrative arch and direct link to stories. As a young composer, though, he did compose several symphonies and chamber works, including this often overlooked Piano Quartet.

Suggested Performances

Turina Piano Quartet, Op. 67

Turina studied in Paris and met many of the leading Impressionist composers of the day, but his music remains distinctly Spanish with folk melodies used throughout the quartet. Hear it on Wednesday, July 3.

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Grieg Violin Sonata, Op. 8

Grieg, most well known for his large scale works, wrote a number of pieces for smaller groups, including his first Violin Sonata. James Ehnes and Orion Weiss perform this melodic work during the Pre-Concert Recital on Friday, July 5.

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Beach String Quartet, Op. 89

Beach’s String Quartet was written in a single movement and incorporates Inuit melodies. It wasn’t published during her life, but shows off her versatility as a composer. Hear her only string quartet on Wednesday, July 17.

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