Czech this out! The 2013 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival opens with the World Premiere of composer Ching-chu Hu’s String Sextet.

Tonight, we feast and we dance! Opening night of the 2013 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival at the Gesa Power House Theater will crackle with the lively Bohemian dance rhythms of the Dvorak Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81. Czech dances, such as the Dumka and Furiant, loom large in this audience favorite.

Also on the program is Beethoven's delightful "Harp" string quartet, Op. 74. The work, from the same period as the "Emperor" Concerto, belies none of the circumstances of Beethoven's existence in 1809: encroaching deafness, Napoleon's siege of Vienna, and attending economic woes. Beethoven, ever crafty, negotiated his way through the maze as a freelance composer.

This season marks the sixth year of the WWCMF tradition of opening the Festival Series with a specially commissioned work. It is fitting that it is a work for six players. Our featured composer is Ching-chu Hu, whose new String Sextet was commissioned for the 2013 Festival and has its World Premiere tonight!

Ching-chu Hu

Spheres of Influence, for String Sextet (2013 World Premiere, WWCMF Commission)

The 2013 Commission of the “Spheres of Influence, for String Sextet” by Ching-chu Hu was made possible by the generosity of John Jamison and Kathy Wildermuth.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 74, “Harp”

I. Poco adagio - Allegro

II. Adagio ma non troppo

III. Presto - Più presto quasi prestissimo

IV. Allegretto con variazioni

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)

Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81

I. Allegro ma non tanto

II. Dumka. Andante con moto

III. Scherzo (Furiant). Molto vivace

IV. Finale. Allegro

Artists: Timothy Christie, Oksana Ezhokina, Carolyn Heubi, Norbert Lewandowski, Christina McGann,Stephen Miahky, Maria Sampen, and Felix Wang