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Contact: Gabriel Langfur
info@chameleonarts.org
617-427-8200
Chameleon Arts Ensemble presents "wordless, wonderous things"
October 7, 2009 – Boston, MA – Following the success of two sold out performances at its season opening concerts, the Chameleon Arts Ensemble continues its twelfth chamber music season on Saturday, November 7, 8 PM at the Goethe-Institut Boston, 170 Beacon Street in the Back Bay. wordless, wondrous things is a Chameleon-style evening of song—no words necessary. The program is inspired by Felix Mendelssohn’s Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 109 for cello & piano, and also includes August Klughardt’s Schilflieder (Reed Songs) for oboe, viola & piano, Op. 28; Estonian composer Ester Mägi’s Serenade for flute, violin & viola; Sebastian Currier’s Whispers for flute, cello, piano & percussion, and the Piano Trio No.1 in B-flat Major, Op. 99, D. 898 by perhaps the greatest composer of songs, Franz Schubert.
Lieder ohne Worte, or “Songs without Words,” was a genre all Mendelssohn’s own, a vehicle sometimes for intimate communication (particularly with his sister Fanny), sometimes capitalizing on the increasing popularity of the piano in the parlor of middle-class homes, and sometimes for the most profound expression possible only in the hands of a virtuoso. He wrote such works throughout his life, almost exclusively for solo piano, but in 1845 set one for cello and piano. Mendelssohn famously considered music to be a much more direct way of communication than words, which he wrote, “seem to me to be so ambiguous, so vague, so easily misunderstood in comparison to genuine music, which fills the soul with a thousand things better than words.”
Schubert’s B-flat Major Piano Trio is one of the pinnacles of the genre, its immediate appeal stemming from Schubert’s masterful melodies and beautiful instrumental writing. As Robert Schumann remarked, “One glance at Schubert’s Trio and the troubles of our human existence disappear and all the world is fresh and bright again.”
The German Romantic composer August Klughardt has been nearly forgotten in concert halls today, but his music is well worth rediscovering. Schilflieder, or Reed Songs, for oboe, viola & piano, is a marvelous example of his unabashed Romanticism. The five instrumental songs are based on poems by Nikolaus Lenau, and with wonderfully pictorial writing tell the story of a man who has lost his love. American composer Sebastian Currier’s Whispers captures in instrumental sounds the limitless communicative possibilities of tones of voice. Ester Mägi, an Estonian composer born in 1922, represents the rich traditions of her region, with music deeply rooted in folk styles and yet clearly of our time. The inclusion on this concert of Mägi’s Serenade may well be the first performance of any of her music in Boston, demonstrating yet again Chameleon’s dedication to music that simply isn’t heard anywhere else.
Since its founding in 1998, Chameleon and artistic director Deborah Boldin have earned unqualified praise for integrating old and new repertoire into unexpected chamber music programs that are themselves works of art. They were recognized nationally with 2009 and 2007 ASCAP/CMA Awards for Adventurous Programming. The Boston Globe praised Ms. Boldin’s “carefully curated blending of classic and contemporary repertoire,” and her “discerning ears and cosmopolitan tastes,” and remarked, “during intermission, concertgoers could be heard marveling at the program’s breadth and wondering why other groups aren’t as adventurous. Chameleon makes daring seem easy.”
This innovative ensemble now draws capacity audiences of those who love the adventure of music—classic and contemporary. A Chameleon concert is a multifaceted experience in an intimate environment joining audience and musicians in an exuberant celebration of music. The musicians are among Boston’s most highly-respected and sought-after performers, with growing national and international reputations. Their superb artistry and finely honed collaborative skills ensure luminous performances and dynamic musical dialogues.
For tickets or more information, concertgoers can call 617-427-8200 or visit www.chameleonarts.org. Subscription prices range from $49 to $152, and individual tickets are $38, $28 and $18. $5 discounts for students and seniors are available. The Goethe-Institut is a wheelchair accessible venue. |
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info@chameleonarts.org
