Persephone Chamber Ensemble – Sunday, November 4 at 4 pm

Persephone Chamber Ensemble
Lois Brandwynne, piano; Ilana Blumberg Thomas, violin; Wendy Clymer, viola; Amy Brodo, cello; Kindra Scharich, mezzo-soprano

Elinor Armer Nocturnes for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano Quartet World Premiere
Johannes Brahms Two Songs for Voice, Viola, and Piano, Op. 91
Johannes Brahms Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60

Persephone Chamber Ensemble is a recently formed, intergenerational women’s chamber group dedicated to programming music that highlights the integration of both traditional and contemporary vocal and instrumental chamber music. Its members are experienced artists with national and international careers both solo and collaborative. The program will include the world premiere of Nocturnes for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano Quartet, written especially for the ensemble by esteemed Bay Area composer Elinor Armer. This highly romantic new song cycle will be coupled with Brahms’ powerfully dramatic Piano Quartet in C Minor and his heartfelt Two Songs for Voice, Viola & Piano. Before the performance, Ms. Armer will comment on her settings of poetry by Rilke, Tennyson, McGuire and William Carlos Willams, and she will also be available afterwards to greet the public.