Description

The final program on LACO’s popular Chamber Series curated by Concertmaster and Director of Chamber Music Margaret Batjer features lauded contributions to chamber music by women composers. LACO artists perform three Romantic-era treasures, including Clara Schumann’s timeless and heartfelt Three Romances, Op. 94; Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s rhapsodic String Quartet in E-flat major; and Louise Farrenc’s masterful but once forgotten Nonet, Op. 38, written for string quartet and wind quintet and imbued with sonorous textures and intricate orchestrations. Two contemporary works complete the program, including Down an innovative trio for flute, viola, and harp byNokuthula Ngwenyama, a Los Angeles native whose music is celebrated for its rich timbres and emotional depth. LACO also pays tribute to Sarah Gibson – an accomplished composer championed by the orchestra who passed away from cancer in July 2024 at age 38 – with the posthumous world premiere of Gibson’s I do not want horses or diamonds. LACO commissioned the work for Clara Schumann's 200th birth year. Gibson said of the piece, “The title comes from a letter Clara Schumann wrote to Richard Schumann early on in their courtship. In this letter, Clara was remarking that all she wanted was a simple and happy life with Richard, not one in which she needed to be spoiled or surrounded by expensive things—much to her father's dismay. To evoke that desired simplicity, I used a single chord progression from Clara Schumann's Romance No. 1 for violin and piano as the sole harmony and focal point of my piece.” VANGUARD: FARRENC’S NONET is made possible, in part, with the generous support from Anne-Marie + Alex Spataru and Joan Wynn. Additional support is provided by Daniel Ohgi. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 The Huntington, Rothenberg Hall, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108 Margaret Batjer, Director of Chamber Music C. SCHUMANN Three Romances, Op. 94 S. GIBSON I do not want horses or diamonds (Posthumous World Premiere) NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA Down F. MENDELSSOHN-HENSEL String Quartet in E-flat major L. FARRENC Nonet, Op. 38