Through the mediums provided by two violins and piano, School of Music faculty James Stern, Larissa Dedova and Irina Muresanu plus guest pianist Audrey Andrist examine the life of Sergei Prokofiev, from the brash, revolutionary products of his St. Petersburg Conservatory days, to the inward-looking music of his self-imposed exile in the west, to the war-inspired epics of his return to his homeland.

Program

Prokofiev:

Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 14

Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 80

Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94

Kernis’ short fanfare For Love of the Mountains evokes the grandeur of the Grand Tetons, while Lindberg’s Souvenir reflects the composer’s thoughts on his influential teachers. Adam Schoenberg’s American Symphony was inspired by Barack Obama’s 2008 election. Together, these works explore the ways in which composers have been inspired by people and events.

Mercy prevails over jealousy, revenge and an attempted murder that sets Rome on fire in Mozart's last opera, La clemenza di Tito. Commissioned for the coronation of the new King of Bohemia and premiered three months before the composer's death, La clemenza di Tito is an opera seria based on the life of the Roman Emperor Titus.

A major talent on the international dance scene, Aakash Odedra is rapidly accumulating wide acclaim. With training in traditional Indian dance disciplines Kathak and Bharata Natyan, Odedra’s unique multifaceted style is graceful, provocative and unflinching. In Rising, he presents a quartet of solo pieces showcasing his remarkable capabilities, from razor-sharp precision and enviable poise to mesmerizing agility.

Usually positioned at the back of the orchestra, the percussion section moves center stage to reveal the colorful, melodic potential of their instruments in this striking concert of contemporary music.