“In our 40th anniversary season, St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble [OSL] has programmed music that both looks back on the ensemble’s history and toward its future–and the future of classical music….”
And so, Orchestra of St. Luke’s Communications Manager Meredith VanBenschoten introduces us to the ensemble’s season-opening series “Through the Looking Glass,” featuring the world premiere performances of Roberto Sierra’s Octeto en cuatro tiempos (Octet in Four Tempos). Commissioned by the ensemble, an
d scored for clarinet, bassoon, horn and string quartet, Octeto en cuatro tiempos is highlighted on a program inspired by Beethoven and Schubert. The series begins on October 19 at the Brooklyn Museum, followed by two performances on October 22 and 24 at The Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan. On the 22nd, the composer takes part in an informal pre-concert talk.
VanBenschoten continues, “We were especially interested in programming music that had special meaning to our musicians, and several suggested Roberto Sierra as a skilled and creative composer whose music they had enjoyed playing in the past. Roberto was asked to take inspiration from the Schubert Octet, a piece that has been a trademark of the ensemble through the years. In this milestone season, it is exciting to share music that our musicians feel personally connected to, and to know that we are contributing to and putting our own stamp on the classical music repertoire.”
More October events: on the 15th, pianist Juan Carlos Garvayo gives the Venezuelan premiere of Introduccion, Cancion y Descargo at the XVIII Festival Latinoamericano de Música in Caracas; the 16th and 18th bring two performances in Brazil of Trío No. 3 “Romántico” given by ensemble members of the São Paulo Symphony, and on October 26, cellist John Haines-Eitzen joins pianist Matthew Bengston to perform Sonata No. 1 at Cornell University.