The Valley Concert Society welcomes violinist Stefan Jackiw and three of his colleagues to the stage of the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium in Abbotsford on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. to present Romantic Gems.
Jackiw, who is based in New York, is joined by his wife, clarinetist Yoonah Kim; Calgary cellist Arnold Choi; and American pianist Henry Kramer as they perform three works from the late Romantic Era.
All four musicians are award-winning artists with international careers playing as soloists with orchestras, in chamber ensembles, and in solo recitals.
The program opens with the Clarinet Trio in A minor by Johannes Brahms. After he had already decided to retire, Brahms attended a brilliant clarinet performance which inspired him to compose this work.
All four musicians collaborate on the Quartet for Piano, Violin, Clarinet, and Cello by Walter Rabl.
Rabl may be unknown as a composer, but this caught the attention of Brahms when he heard it. It is probably the first work to be written for this combination of instruments.
The second half of the program consists of the Trio No. 1 for Violin, Cello, and Piano by the Czech composer Bedrich Smetana. It is an outpouring of emotion by the composer following the death of his eldest daughter.
Tickets are available online at valleyconcertsociety.com at $32 for adults/seniors and $20 for students. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. There will be a pre-concert talk in the lobby at 6:50 p.m.
For more information, call 604-289-3377.