When it comes to chamber music, there exists a seemingly infinite number of instrument combinations. There are, of course, the conventional ensembles in quartets, quintets and piano trios but one such musical amalgam owes its name to impressionist icon Claude Debussy. His Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp from 1915 is a one-of-a-kind piece that blends a unique set of instruments, the collection of which is now colloquially referred to as a Debussy trio. It is appropriate, then, that
the
Debussy Trio would be as progressive as its namesake in programming some spectacular and unexpected works for this Sunday.
Celebrating its twenty-fifth
year together, the Trio comes to Louisville as the finale to the Chamber Music Society’s 2013/2014 season. Known for its musical activism in education and outreach, the Trio’s repertoire spans multiple centuries and styles from French Impressionism to American jazz-fusion. From the ensemble’s website [4]: “The
Debussy
Trio's unique repertoire of
20th
/
21st
Century music offers a refreshing and exciting change of pace for concert-goers of all ages. Audiences are captivated by the dynamic expressive performances and enjoy the relaxed informal commentary from the stage.”
The Trio also welcomes this weekend guest mezzo-soprano
Suzanna
Guzmán
who has enjoyed a career in music and television. As an opera singer, she has performed across the world including with the Metropolitan Opera, the
Spoleto
Festival in Italy and the Houston Grand Opera as
Bizet’s
Carmen, a role she has performed over 200 times.
This Sunday’s concert features works by
Debussy
, Vaughan Williams as well as Bruce
Boughton
, David Evan Thomas and Ian
Krouse
. The performance is set to begin in Comstock Hall at the School of Music at 3 pm. Tickets start at $25 ($5 for students) and can be purchased online here [5].
(Photo courtesy of www.debussytrio.com.)
Follow Michael on Twitter: @rackoflambert [6].