Strobe – Friday, November 9 at 8 pm

Laura Griffiths, oboe; Stephanie Bibbo, violin; Caroline Lee, viola; Krisanthy Desby, cello

Alexis Alrich Water Colors (World Premiere)
Vincent Russo Visions and Visitations (San Francisco Premiere)
Franz Schubert String Trio in B-flat major, D. 471
Benjamin Britten Phantasy Quartet

Strobe was born in a carpool, conceived by a love for the oboe. During commutes from San Francisco to Berkeley to play Swan Lake, Laura and Kris began talking about oboes—Laura plays it and Kris loves it because the oboe was her father’s instrument. They discussed favorite oboe repertoire and chamber music, along with concert ideas. Stephanie and Caroline signed on, and Strobe was created.

The chamber repertoire for oboe and strings is tiny. Only two pieces have made it into the major repertoire stream: Mozart’s Oboe Quartet, written in 1781, and 151 years later, Benjamin Britten’s Phantasy Quartet, written in 1932. We are long overdue for music written specifically for oboe and strings. Our mission is to increase the repertoire for this combination.

This performance will feature the World Premiere of two movements from Alexis Alrich’s Water Colors. The work is inspired by Alrich’s synesthesia, an experience she shares with other composers including Messiaen, Liszt, and Scriabin. Also featured is the San Francisco Premiere of Vincent Russo’s Visions and Visitations, a work based on the experiences of four historical figures: Joan of Arc, Ludwig Meidner, Abraham Lincoln, and Jacob Boehme, inspired in part by a vision the composer had as a child.