By Alex Cordero
Have you had the opportunity to listen to Pittance Chamber Music perform in Pasadena? The organization keeps hosting incredible concert series and is celebrating its fifth anniversary season. “Piano Quartets with Robert Thies” was the latest concert and if you missed it do not worry because it is not too late to purchase a pair of tickets for their upcoming events. These are unique musical programs designed to grant concert goers with a remarkable experience.
Robert Thies along with violist Brian Dembow, cello player Rowena Hammill and Ben Jacobson on violin (filling in for Ana Landauer) played beautifully together on stage this past Sunday at Barrett Hall. The talented musicians played a brilliant program of masterpieces of chamber music literature. The concert included Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor by Mozart, for which the famous composer faced criticism from his publisher because it was not considered to be popular for its time. Perhaps even a modern musician can relate to Wolfgang in that aspect. The concert continued with Beethoven: seven variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen” and ended with the lovely Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26 by Brahms.
Pittance Chamber Music’s upcoming events include an evening of music by Vaughan Williams and Brahms titled “Evensong with Joshua Wheeker” on Sunday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. Also scheduled, on Saturday, June 15 at 3 p.m., is “A Tale of Two Émigrés with James Conlon” a one of a kind program about the story of Jewish émigré composers Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Arnold Schoenberg. Maestro Conlon will be conducting members of the LA Opera and speaking about Korngold and Schoenberg. Tickets cost $35, seniors $20, and student rush $10. For further details and to purchase your tickets please visit PittanceChamberMusic.org.
