Earlier this summer, longtime collaborator pianist Jonathan Biss reunited with St. Paul Chamber Orchestra musicians, bringing the ensemble’s 25-26 season theme full circle in a concert that honored the lives and music of Robert and Clara Schumann, with Robert’s Piano Concerto as the program’s finale. An accomplished pianist in her own right, Clara is essential to Robert’s music, and she was the soloist who premiered his concerto in 1845 following its completion. In addition to the only piano concerto her husband ever finished, this program features Clara’s Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano, as well as works by contemporary composers Augusta Reed Thomas and György Kurtág, who were both inspired by the music of the Schumanns. Biss intersperses these shorter works within Schumann’s larger works for piano and orchestra throughout the program. Listen to our broadcast of this concert with host Steve Seel at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, on YourClassical MPR.
Program
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Jonathan Biss, piano
ROBERT SCHUMANN Introduction and Allegro appassionato (Konzertstück)
GYÖRGY KURTÁG Hommage à R. Schumann for Clarinet, Viola and Piano
CLARA SCHUMANN Trio in G Minor for Violin, Cello and Piano
AUGUSTA READ THOMAS Clara’s Ascent
ROBERT SCHUMANN Piano Concerto
GYÖRGY KURTÁG Selections from Játékok (Games) for Solo Piano and Signs, Games, and Messages for String Trio
For more information regarding this concert, please visit the official website.
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment‘s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
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