Portland Chamber Music Festival: Beethoven, Brahms, and the Bard

Start: Thursday, August 21, 2025 7:30PM
End: Thursday, August 21, 2025 9:30PM

Immerse yourself in a unique experience at the intersection of two beloved art forms, as classical masterpieces and readings from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet showcase familiar works in a dramatic new light. The emotional resonance of this timeless play becomes doubly dramatic through intertwining spoken passages with Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite, a bold, 20th century interpretation of the star-crossed love story. Beethoven was inspired by the tragic tomb scene for the lovely and lyrical Adagio of one of his earliest string quartets. Finally, Brahms’ radiant String Sextet No. 2, infused with bittersweet longing and lush lyricism, was inscribed to a woman he loved from afar. PROGRAM Prokofiev: Suite from Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare: Selected readings from Romeo and Juliet Beethoven: String Quartet No. 1, Op. 18 Brahms: String Sextet No. 2, Op. 36, “Agathe” ARTISTS Walter van Dyk, reciter; Chad Hoopes, ?Anthony Marwood, Susie Park, violin; Melissa Reardon, Cara Pogossian, viola; Nina Lee, Raman Ramakrishnan, cello; Benjamin Hochman, piano