Chamber Concert Features Works of Prokofiev, Shostakovich
MADISON, NJ—The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will present select works by renowned 20th century composers Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich on March 16 at Drew University. The program will explore the relationship between the two, who were leading Soviet musicians. As competitors, they were not the best of friends, but they moved within the same circles and drew from the same sources.
Prokofiev has been called one of the greatest composers of his time. Having mastered several genres, he is best known for his musical versatility. He demonstrated advanced musical abilities early in life and composed his first opera, “The Giant,” as a nine-year-old. Born in the area now known as Ukraine, he composed and performed in San Francisco, London, Paris and Ettal, a small town in the Bavarian Alps, among other places.
A number of works by Shostakovich, a member of the Soviet Union’s Communist Party, borrow neoclassical elements from Prokofiev’s. According to the “Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,” Shostakovich is the “the most talented Soviet composer of his generation.” His most popular works are his symphonies and string quartets. He also composed piano sonatas, preludes, operas, concertos and film music.
Pieces to be performed on March 16 include:
• Prokofiev, Overture on Hebrew Themes for Clarinet, String Quartet, and Piano, Op. 34
• Shostakovich, From Jewish Folk Poetry for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, and Piano, Op. 79
• Prokofiev, Five Poems by Anna Akhmatova for Voice and Piano, Op. 27
• Shostakovich, String Quartet No. 4 in D major, Op. 83
The concert will feature soprano Dina Kuznetsova; mezzo-soprano Irina Mishura; pianist Gilbert Kalish; and clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester. Also performing will be the Jupiter String Quartet, which features Nelson Lee and Meg Freivogel on violins; Liz Freivogel on the viola; and Daniel McDonough on the cello.
The Chamber Music Society’s March 16 concert will begin at 8:00 p.m. in the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts Concert Hall on the Drew campus. Tickets are $52. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Drew box office at 973/408-3917.
###
Posted: February 24, 2009
