Barber and Wagner

WWCMF presents a program of stunning variety for our third Festival Series performance of the June 2019 season. The cast includes piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, horn, trumpet and trombone. These amazing artists perform with such outstanding ensembles as the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (NY), Cleveland Orchestra (OH), Boston Modern Orchestra Project (MA) and the Seattle Symphony during the year. In June, we have them all to ourselves in Walla Walla.

With all these virtuoso musicians, there’s something for everyone. The Webern Concerto for Nine Instruments will challenge your sense of sonic order, Barber’s Summer Music for woodwind quintet will breeze through the Power House Theater like the summer wind and Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll will evoke an ancient forest replete with woodland critters. Spanning influences from serial music to American post-tonal harmony to jazz to unabashed romanticism, this program has it all. Join us for a concert sure to change your perception of what chamber music can be.

Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Summer Music, Op. 31 (1955) For Woodwind Quintet

Anton Webern (1883-1945)

Concerto For Nine Instruments, Op. 24 (1934)

I. Etwas lebhaft

II. Sehr langsam

III. Sehr rasch

Dobrinka Tabakova (b. 1980)

Suite In Jazz Style (2009) For Piano And Viola

I.

II.

III.

INTERMISSION

Pierre Gabaye (1930-2000)

Récréation (1958) For Trumpet, Trombone, Horn And Piano

I. Allegretto

II. Largo

III. Presto

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Siegfried Idyll (1869)

Artists: Sarah Brady, flute; Rodger Burnett, horn; Timothy Christie, viola; Billy Ray Hunter, trumpet; Martin King, horn; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Christina McGann, violin; Angelique Poteat, clarinet; Paul Rafanelli, bassoon; Maria Sampen, violin; Kevin Schempf, clarinet; Stephen Schermer, double bass; Weston Sprott, trombone; Anna Stoytcheva, piano; and Dan Williams, oboe.

Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of Dick and Julie Swenson.

Festival Series 2 features two Classical Era masterpieces. One, by Haydn, is known by the loftiest of monikers, “The Emperor.” The other, by Mozart, is known by a somewhat more pedestrian nickname, “Kegelstatt.” Not up on your German? Kegelstatt is the eighteenth century version of a bowling alley. These two nicknamed works could be seen as emblematic of the two composers who penned them.

Haydn, ever known by his compositional wit, was at ease among the upper classes, enjoying patronage and success in business. Mozart, ever known by his sophomoric wit, had difficulty with authority and died in poverty. The two composers were great friends and mutually admired each other’s work. Festival Series 2 will showcase the mastery of both.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

TRIO IN E FLAT FOR PIANO, VIOLA AND CLARINET, K. 498 “KEGELSTATT”

I. Andante
II. Menuetto
III. Allegretto

Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

KNOXVILLE: SUMMER OF 1915, OP. 24

Intermission

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

STRING QUARTET OP. 76, NO. 3 “EMPEROR”

I. Allegro
II. Poco adagio; cantabile
III. Menuetto. Allegro
IV. Finale. Presto

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Jennifer Goltz, soprano; Andrew Jennings, violin; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Stephen Miahky, violin; Laura Renz, viola; David Requiro, cello; Maria Sampen, violin; Kevin Schempf, clarinet; Meta Weiss, cello; and Wei-Han Wu, piano.