BHC Concert Series presents Sarah Wood, Elaine Kreston, Lisa Maresch

The Artists:

Sarah Wood - violin

Elaine Kreston - cello

Lisa Maresh - piano

The Program:

Living For Art

Clara Schumann - Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17 (1846)

Johannes Brahms - Piano Trio in B Major, Op. 8 (unrevised edition of 1854)

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My imagination can picture no fairer happiness than to continue living for art.

– Clara Schumann

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Our program, “Living for Art” showcases piano trios written by two composers completely dedicated to lofty artistic ideals – despite how messy their lives could get. While Schumann wrote her piano trio in her mid-20s, she gave birth to her fourth child, and then miscarried her subsequent pregnancy. Eight years later, while 21-year-old Brahms was writing his piano trio - and six months after being introduced to the Schumanns - Clara’s husband Robert was committed to an asylum due to late-stage symptoms of syphilis. Brahms, completely smitten with Clara, chose to move in with her to help her prepare for her seventh child.

For this concert, we have made the unusual choice to pair Schumann’s piano trio with the unrevised, original version of Brahms’ piano trio of 1854 to more fully showcase the youthful qualities of each work, and to show how each composer managed to still “live for art” despite...life.

Admission: $30 general, $25 students and seniors, $15 Youth and Hillside Club members

Host or Publisher Berkeley Hillside Club