A piece that Schubert finished.

Festival Series III walks softly, but carries a big stick. The program will open with the World Premiere of Sotto Voce for piano trio, by composer, Marilyn Shrude. In Italian, sotto voce means “under the voice.” The work inhabits a quiet place, but makes a profound impact. Sotto Voce was composed for WWCMF as part of a Guggenheim Fellowship awarded to Marilyn Shrude in 2011.

Opposite this brand new trio is the B Flat Piano Trio, Op. 99, by Franz Schubert. One of two undisputed masterpieces by Schubert in this medium, the B Flat Piano Trio is a subtle work when compared to its counterpart, the magnificent E Flat Piano Trio, Op. 100. It lives “under the voice,” and yet it speaks volumes. This will be a special night of chamber music.

Artists: Timothy Christie, Katri Ervamaa, Norbert Lewandowski, Christina McGann, Stephen Miahky, Philip Payton, Erik Rynearson, Maria Sampen, Cristina Valdes and Julie Woods

Brahms G minor Piano Quartet with music of Marilyn Shrude and Richard Strauss

The 2011 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival concludes with what can be described as the ultimate festival piece, the Brahms G minor Piano Quartet. For the occasion, WWCMF welcomes pianist of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet and Professor of Piano at Cornell University, Xak Bjerken. Brahms’ work is known for its searing gypsy rondo Finale, and will leave you marking your calendars for the 2012 Festival.

Also on the program are two works by non-Italians who have chosen Italian titles for their works. Memorie diLuoghi (Memories of Places) is a sonata for violin and piano by composer, Marilyn Shrude. It is dedicated to the violinist Maria Sampen, her daughter, and fittingly, it is Maria who performs the work this evening. Richard Strauss’ final opera, Capriccio, opens with a string sextet of phenomenal beauty. It is presented here without the rest of the opera… and affords us the rare opportunity to perform chamber music from a composer known for his immense orchestrations.

Artists: Xak Bjerken, Timothy Christie, Kevin Krentz, Norbert Lewandowski, Christina McGann, Stephen Miahky, Philip Payton, Julia Salerno and Maria Sampen.

Beethoven: Piano Trio in B Flat Major Op. 11

Shrude: "Raining Glass"

Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in c minor Op. 66