Claudia Schaer and Marc Péloquin present a recital of outstanding contemporary American Violin-Piano duos. A wealth of genres and styles are at our fingertips …
Philip Wharton’s Tombeau de Ravel harkens back not just to the impressionist Ravel but also to baroque composer François Couperin, reminding us of the past with vivid fresh imagination. Drew Hemenger’s Sharks! is a jazzy play on that fish’s most famous theme song. Max Lifchitz’ Raoul’s Tango-Waltz, from Four Tango Sketches which were premiered in their chamber orchestra version with Claudia Schaer and the North-South Chamber Orchestra in 2022, is a tongue-in-cheek fusion of tango and waltz styles. Christopher James’ Labyrinths was written for Claudia Schaer and Marc Péloquin and recorded in spring 2024; it is a very expressive 12-tone work with many-faceted thoughts and characters. Jessie Montgomery’s Peace was composed in 2020 and is a deeply pensive meditation on the sadness that is part of the fabric of life. Michael Torke’s Spoon Bread gives a nod to Kentucky, and is brightly influenced by fiddling, jazz and baroque music altogether. Ellene Taaffe Zwilich’s Partita rounds out the program with a light-hearted and fun take on many of the above genres.