The Iron Fist in the Velvet Glove

This exceptional assembly of musicians which includes long-time friends of the series, Artistic Director Gary Levinson and Felix Olschofka, violins, and Michael Klotz, viola. They will join together with Columbian-born cellist, Santiago Cañón-Valencia and Cliburn Competition finalist, Elisso Bolkvadze, pianist, in works by Beethoven and a piano quintet by César Franck.​

The concert opens with Beethoven's highly treasured Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 9 (Kreutzer).  For a brief time, the sonata was known as the Bridgetower Sonata, dedicated to the violinist who premiered the work. However, a quarrel between Beethoven and Bridgetower encouraged the composer to re-dedicate the work to Rudolphe Kreutzer, a Parisian virtuoso violinist whom Beethoven had heard perform in Vienna.​

Franck’s Piano Quintet in F Minor closes the program.  This quintet was composed in the winter of 1878-1879, a time during which some biographers suggest Frank was infatuated with one of his students.  An ultra-expressive work - a critic said it contains more ppp and fff markings than any other chamber piece - it may have been inspired by this passion, which might also account for the disgust Franck’s wife registered publicly for it.

Tickets are available by calling 817-877-3003, online at www.chambermusicFW.org, and at the door.  For more information about this concert and the 2017-18 season, please visit the website at www.chambermusicFW.org.