Exploring Passion: The Fire Within Us

Passion originally meant “great suffering,” but today it is more often used to connote romantic love. This program will present great works of chamber music that depict both suffering and love, as well as other emotionally-charged works ranging from ecstatic fervor, to burning desire, to utter despair.

The program will include Shostakovitch’s String Quartet No. 8, written in response to the bombing of Dresden in World War II, and Johannes Brahms’ great C Minor Piano Quartet, a work inspired by a tale of unrequited love. As an homage to the original meaning of passion, one of  Biber’s Mystery Sonatas for Violin and Keyboard, subtitled “Crucifixion,” will be included as well.

Guest artist, Ora Itkin, piano

Heinrich Biber   Mystery Sonata No. 10 “Crucifixion” for Violin and ContinuoStephanie Arado, violin; Ora Itkin, piano

Alfred Schnittke
Tango in a Mad House for Violin and Piano
Stephanie Arado, violin; Ora Itkin, piano

Dmitri Shostakovitch String Quartet No. 8, Op. 110, in C MinorLeslie Shank, violin, Emily Switzer, violin; Sarah Switzer, viola; Tom Rosenberg, cello

Arvo Pårt   Spiegel im Spiegel for Cello and PianoLaura Sewell, cello; Ora Itkin, piano

Johannes Brahms  Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 3, Op. 60, in C MinorEmily Switzer, violin; Kenneth Freed, viola; Laura Sewell, cello; Ora Itkin, piano

Host or Publisher Isles Ensemble