20th Century Masters: Stravinsky, Bartók & Shostakovich

Our future Artistic Directors pianist Gloria Chien and violinist Soovin Kim and friends perform masterpieces by Bartók and Shostakovich, followed by Stravinsky’s powerhouse The Rite of Spring for piano four hands performed by pianists Anne-Marie McDermott and Gilles Vonsattel.

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Premieres July 13 @ 7 pm PT
Available through July 14 @ 11:59 pm PT

Program

Click on any piece of music below to learn more about it.

BÉLA BARTÓK Contrasts (1938)

BÉLA BARTÓK (1881-1945) Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet & Piano, Sz. 111 (20’)

I. Verbunkos (Recruiting Dance)
II. Pihenö (Relaxation)
III. Sebes (Fast Dance)

Before the war officially started, Béla Bartók was consumed by his fear of impending disaster. In April 1938, he wrote of “the imminent danger that Hungary will surrender to this regime of thieves and murderers.” He contemplated emigration but had to stay for his ailing mother, who would soon pass away.

During these difficult months, the violinist Joseph Szigeti coordinated a commission from the jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman for a “clarinet-violin duet with piano accompaniment.” Thus, during the final lead up to war, Bartók wrote an unusual work he called Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet & Piano, which he would soon play with Goodman and Szigeti when he arrived in the United States.

—© Ethan Allred

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67 (1944)

Gloria Chien, piano
Soovin Kim, violin
Sophie Shao, cello

Originally performed on Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019｜Lincoln Performance Hall @ 8pm

See our Program Book for program notes.

IGOR STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring for Piano, Four Hands

Anne-Marie McDermott, piano
Gilles Vonsattel, piano

Originally performed on Thursday, January 29th, 2015｜Lincoln Recital Hall @ 7:30pm

See our Program Book for program notes.

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