DUO BRITT - YOAKEM
Sujari Britt (cello) and Jared Alan Yoakem (piano), a Castleton formed duo, celebrate the rich repertoire that exists for the cello and piano. The touching combination of Britt’s stirring voice at the cello with the limitless soundscape capable of Yoakem’s makes this duo special.
Sujari Britt (cello) returns with Jared Alan Yoakem (piano) with a program that reminds us through uncertainty, music remains a vessel in which we can pour our collective struggle and our persistent hope.
Forming the first half of the program are two pieces written before WWI, later revised, and finally published after WWI by Czech composer Leoš Janáček and British composer Frank Bridge. The music displays the twin relationship of war and peace. Both war and peace consistently co-exist in this era, as even the most precious melodic themes are bullied by dissonance. Moving to the second half, the performance begins with The Messenger by Valentin Silvestrov. Written originally in 1996 for piano and orchestra after the sudden death of Silvestrov's wife, this introspective piano solo version plummets the listener into his private world of catastrophe. One can't help but grip their heart in empathy, as we are reminded of the loss of innocent life that has occurred. After this threnody, the program continues and ultimately concludes with pieces that honor and celebrate the verdant world of Maestro Lorin Maazel as Castleton begins its 30th season.
