Inspired by Friendship: A Night Out with Aspect Chamber Music Series

We’re so grateful to announce our first Night Out with our beloved and brilliant friends at the Aspect Chamber Music Series — an evening entitled: Inspired by Friendship

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‘True friendship can rest only on the union of like natures.’

• Beethoven’s Diary, 1812–18

Great music has often flowered from friendships between like-minded artists. In 1803, Ludwig Beethoven’s short-lived friendship with the charismatic Afro-European violinist George Polgreen Bridgetower inspired his tempestuous Violin Sonata in A major, Op. 47. Sadly, the two artists quarreled soon after the successful Viennese premiere – Bridgetower called it ‘a silly argument over a girl’ – and the mercurial composer summarily withdrew his dedication to his erstwhile friend and rededicated the sonata to the celebrated French violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer. The Kreutzer Sonata is widely regarded as the greatest of all violin sonatas.

Béla Bartók maintained a more durable friendship with his esteemed violinist colleague Joseph Szigeti. Their fruitful partnership yielded many remarkable works, including Bartók’s First Violin Rhapsody, dedicated to his friend and compatriot Szigeti.

In the summer of 1886, the 53-year-old Johannes Brahms fell under the spell of the young contralto Hermine Spies. Inspired by her artistry and beauty, he composed songs for them to perform together at the idyllic Swiss resort of Thun. Later that summer, he wove themes from ‘her’ songs into the fabric of his radiant Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100.

On October 7, we will explore these musical friendships and hear the masterpieces they inspired Aspect-style: They’ve brought along two of the greatest instrumentalists of our era — Kristóf Baráti on violin and Roman Rabinovich on piano — to follow an illustrated talk by educator and intellectual Michael Parloff, who will set the scene for the ensuing masterworks.

Snacks and wine are included, so have a great Night Out!

What's the music?

Kristóf Baráti

Roman Rabinovich

Attendees

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Casey G.

James P.

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Chianti H.

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Jason K.

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Joshua H.

Lisa H.

Ravishankar R.

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Sarah B.

C. J.

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Seth E.