The music of Palestrina is a divine invitation into this evening of influences and inspirations. Bruch composed his series of miniatures for his son Max, who was just beginning his career as a professional clarinetist. The visionary composer Astor Piazzolla revolutionized the Argentinian tango, single-handedly inventing an irresistibly seductive, transfixing mélange, with Poulenc’s jaunty neo-classical dialogue between cello and piano providing an alluring contrast. Written when he was still a teenager, Josef Suk’s exuberant piano quartet was the result of an assignment from his teacher, Antonín Dvořák. Though he had written other works, Suk promptly numbered it his Op. 1, signaling that he was now a mature composer moving into his own musical milieu.

GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA – Dominus Jesus in qua nocte
MAX BRUCH – Selections from 8 Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA – Histoire du Tango
FRANCIS POULENC – Sonata for Cello and Piano
JOSEF SUK – Piano Quartet in A Minor