Who are you?
I'm a middle-aged man who loves music and is fortunate enough to be living and performing it. I also have a wife and a son.
What is chamber music?
Chamber music is music composed for between two and nine musicians. Of all the classical forms, it has the most range. It can be intimate and tender, but it can also be wide and operatic, humorous, suspenseful and dramatic. Musicians love to play it because they love to play with their friends. It gives musicians a chance to interpret some of the most brilliant compositions together. Many of our most well-renowned composers' true masterpieces are those written for chamber music.
Why is this Chamber Music Festival exciting or unique?
I'm not afraid to be a critic, but when I chose the lineup for this season, I chose well. I had the opportunity to choose music I love and musicians I believe in. Each group brings something unique to the lineup and audiences will leave with a nuanced perspective on chamber music. Our artists are showcasing masterpieces, like Schubert's "String Quintet in C Major," as well as lesser known pieces such as Rossini's "String Sonata No. 2 in A Major." I'd like to pick one, but you're better off hearing them all.
Where can people who are new to chamber music, or even classical music entirely, find information that will help them enjoy the experience?
It's not a bad idea to go on YouTube or Spotify ahead of time and listen to the pieces you will be hearing. That way, your ear is already primed and you'll be more able to relax into the experience. You don't need to do that, however. One of the wonderful things about music is that it speaks to us. We're made for it. You may want to know more about it, but you don't need to study. All you have to do is go with an open heart and listen.
When you reflect on history's greatest composers, which stand out as your favorites?
Ah, the desert island question! Honestly, I don't have an answer. It changes over time. Presently, I'm finding depth and satisfaction in our major German composers: Brahms, Schubert and Mozart. I think about the first time I heard Brahms' "Sonata for Two Pianos," I was so moved. I envy anyone who has never heard it ... because they can still listen to it for the first time.