I’m looking forward to every moment of this concert! In the spirit of ROCO’s Coming of Age theme this season, Maiko and I have designed a program that will take us all on a journey around the world, a journey through time, and a journey through our respective coming of age stories, from when we first began our musical journeys to the present day. If you’re wondering why the concert is called Flair, well, you’ll just have to come and find out! I’m so happy that Colette Valentine will be with us for the pieces that include piano, and that Marcus Maroney will be there to talk about his wonderful duo, Four Preludes. I hope you can join us in Houston at MATCH this Saturday at 5 p.m., either in person or via the live webcast at roco.org. Here’s the press release:
ROCO’s Unchambered series starts on October 19 with clarinetists Nathan Williams and Maiko Sasaki, accompanied by pianist Colette Valentine, in a program of duos ranging from Classical era favorites to modern commissions. Hear landmark clarinet works by Felix Mendelssohn, Igor Stravinsky, and Amilcare Ponchielli, enjoy a taste of exotic in the music of Bela Kovacs and Michael Tenzer, then experience a flair for the dramatic – in contemporary pieces by Theresa Martin and Houston composer Marcus Maroney. Curious about the clarinet? Bring your questions for an interactive audience Q&A with Nathan and Maiko, where you’ll learn more about this incredible instrument (and how it’s grown up too, over a few hundred years!)
PROGRAM
Bela Kovacs: Greetings from the Balkan
Igor Stravinsky: Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet, First movement
Michael Tenzer: Three Island Duets, Biakwords
Felix Mendelssohn: Concert Piece No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 113
Marcus Maroney: Four Preludes
Theresa Martin: Solar Flair
Amilcare Ponchielli: Il Convegno
“Making music together is the best way for two people to become friends.”
—Hermann Hesse
