Strings Attached

Featured as part of the The Blade Chamber Series

Sunday October 12, 2008 7:00PM

Description:

Two works that stand as pillars of the chamber music repertoire are paired with two miniatures by composers known for their contributions in other genres.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was well known as both a virtuoso violinist and keyboard player, but when he gathered with his friends to make chamber music, his preferred instrument was the viola. His affection for the instrument shines in this late quintet for two violins, two violas, and cello. Béla Bartók’s first string quartet is a landmark work. His quartet cycle stands with Shostakovich’s as the most significant chamber music output of the century; certainly Bartók’s expansion of the string quartet’s technical capabilities cannot be over-estimated. His first quartet mingles elements of the late Romantic (particularly in the first movement) with a motoric finale whose economy and restlessness anticipates many twentieth century developments.

Hugo Wolf is largely known for his beautiful, emotionally intense song settings, but his Italian Serenade for string quartet is one of his most humorous and light-hearted works. Enrique Crespo is both a classical trombonist and a jazz bandleader. His tribute to the great symphonist Anton Bruckner serves as an admirable prelude to the TSO’s performance of Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony in Rosary Cathedral three weeks after this concert!

Call the box office to order tickets at 419-246-8000.

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Program:

Wolf Italian Serenade 7'

Bartok Quartet No. 1 31'

INTERMISSION

Crespo Bruckner Etude 7'

Mozart String Quintet in E-flat Major, K.614 25'

WGTE - FM 91 broadcasts the Toledo Symphony on FM 91 In Concert. Tonight's concert will be re-broadcast Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 8PM through the generosity of the Edward H. Schmidt Musical Arts Fund.