Experience 500 years of music from the British Isles in one time traveling concert, from a Purcell fantasy to the epic piano quintet by Edward Elgar, to a work by Hannah Kendall inspired by the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Program: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, “Petite Suite de Concert,” Op. 77 Musical Time Machine Inspired by H. G. Wells 2020 – Hannah Kendall , Tuxedo: Hot Summer No Water 1977 – Richard Rodney Bennett, Eustace and Hilda 1924 – Ethyl Smythe, Excerpt from Variations on Bonny Sweet Robin 1884 – Hubert Parry, Intermezzo 1820 – John Field, Nocturne in C minor 1680 – Henry Purcell, Fantasia a 4 Benjamin Britten, “Fantasy Quartet,” Op. 2 Edward Elgar, Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84 With: Rieko Aizawa, piano Brendon Elliott, violin Mari Lee, violin Tanner Menees, viola Lauren Williams, oboe James Wilson, cello
This free event continues CMSCVA’s two-concert cycle combining poems and readings about the seasons with music from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s romantic suite of short pieces named “The Seasons.” Experience the passing of time from July to December in words and the intimate, tuneful music of one of history’s most emotional musicians. You can also stream the concert live from the Richmond Public Library at this page. Program: Pyotr Tchaikovsky, “The Seasons” Op. 37a, no 7-12 July: Reaper’s Song – Allegro moderato con moto August: The Harvest – Allegro vivace September: The Hunt – Allegro non troppo October: Autumn Song – Andante doloroso e molto cantabile November: On the Troika – Allegro moderato December: Christmas – Tempo di Valse With: Mary Boodell, Flute Ingrid Keller, Piano James Wilson, Cello
Opening our 20th anniversary season with a Baroque flourish, CMSCVA celebrates the music of Georg Friderick Handel. This special program takes the form of a bespoke playlist of gorgeous instrumental music inspired by one of the composer’s most beloved works, the Messiah. All of this glorious music will be performed on an eleven-piece orchestra of period instruments.
The freedom and joy of 1930’s Germany cabaret culture was swept away by the winds of fascism and war. Travel back to this unique period in musical history with songs and instrumental works by banned and émigré composers from the time, and “For a Look or a Touch,” a moving chamber opera by contemporary American composer Jake Heggie. With “Swept Away!” CMSCVA revisits two of the more intriguing concert themes we have featured over the past two decades – revolutionary and banned music, and forbidden love.
Before candlelight concerts became popular, CMSCVA presented this concept seventeen years ago with “Bach by Candlelight,” one of the favorite concerts from our past 20 years. This year, we present a revival of this concert with elegant and emotional music from J. S. Bach’s solo cello suites and violin partitas, played in candlelight. Intimate music perfect for a winter’s night performed by violinist Johnny Gandelsman and cellist James Wilson.
What could celebrate our 20th anniversary more perfectly than a performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s exhilarating Octet, opus 20? We pair this famous piece of chamber music with a joyful fanfare commissioned for this year from Richmond’s own Donovan Williams, and celebrate the 100th anniversary years of composers Maurice Ravel and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
Built in 1753, members of the Randolph family called Wilton home for over 100 years and entertained some of the most notable political figures including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Having survived the Revolutionary and Civil War, the Wilton House has a rich and complex history. CMSCVA returns to this historic and intimate setting for a program of Baroque music performed on period instruments.
Built in 1753, members of the Randolph family called Wilton home for over 100 years and entertained some of the most notable political figures including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Having survived the Revolutionary and Civil War, the Wilton House has a rich and complex history. CMSCVA returns to this historic and intimate setting for a program of Baroque music performed on period instruments.
One of the highlights of our past 20 years was a back-to-back performance of two of the best loved pieces in the chamber music repertoire, both by Franz Schubert: his spectacular “Trout” Quintet and the epic Cello Quintet in C major. CMSCVA revives this concert for our anniversary year, but with a historical touch. Played on gut strings and a reproduction 1830’s Graf fortepiano, this performance of two stunning works is a not-to-be-missed event in Richmond’s concert season.
Jim Wilson interviews cellist Kahri Joyner, who makes his third appearance with CMSCVA on May 2.