American Chamber Music Society: Summer 1914

The American Chamber Music Society Presents: SUMMER 1914 “Electric . . . performance extracted all the tensions, fun, and charm that can be found” ~THIRD COAST REVIEW In the summer of 1914, Europe stood on the edge of a new era. While young men across the continent were preparing for war, Maurice Ravel was finishing his Piano Trio in the French Basque country, writing with a feverish intensity. He completed it in a matter of weeks, driven by his determination to finish before joining the war effort. It would become one of the most celebrated works for violin, cello, and piano of its time. Decades later, Shostakovich and Arvo Pärt would each confront their own periods of upheaval, searching for new ways forward while the world around them changed. Winner of the Carlos Prieto International Cello Competition, John-Henry Crawford joins acclaimed pianist Victor Santiago Asunción and ACMS Artistic Director and violinist Eric Gratz for three deeply personal works shaped by uncertainty, transformation, and the passage of time. ACMS performs all concerts at PianoForte, an intimate 75-seat concert hall with spectacular acoustics in downtown Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. A reception and meet-and-greet with the performers will follow the program. PROGRAM Dmitri Shostakovich: Sonata for Cello and Piano Arvo Pärt: Fratres Maurice Ravel: Piano Trio Tickets are $30 GA/$10 students. ——– The American Chamber Music Society is deeply invested in inspiring and connecting with our local community. As one of the most intimate classical music experiences in Chicago, it is our honor to enrich our culture by performing repertoire ranging from centuries ago to the present, providing a variety of educational opportunities and offering tickets at a discounted price. There is nothing like sitting a few feet away from the best musicians in the world, especially when many of them are from your home town. I am confident the diverse and innovative programming of our events will leave you moved, exhilarated, and eager to return. –ERIC GRATZ, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR