The General Theological Seminary Chapel acoustically thrives on music for voices and strings, and tonight’s performance showcases the hallowed space with our two Festival sopranos as well as string masterworks by Clara’s confidants and colleagues, Mendelssohn and Brahms. Guests will also witness the World Premiere performances of two 2019 Festival Commissions by Augusta Read Thomas and Santa Ratniece as they come and gather in this Manhattan oasis.

Click here to hear one of our Clara Schumann Ten composers, Augusta Read Thomas, who the New York Magazine describes as a “”a true virtuoso composer” discuss her process of composition and again here for a sampling of her bold, passionate music.

PROGRAM
Mendelssohn Four Pieces for String Quartet op.81 (1847)
Augusta Read Thomas Clara’s Ascent (2019)*
Santa Ratniece “Leider liegt kaum Schnee” (“Sadly There’s Hardly Any Snow”) (2019)*
Brahms String Quintet in G-Major, Op. 111 (1890)

*World Premiere Performance

Featuring
Soprano I | Marisa Karchin
Soprano II | Lucy Shelton
Violin | Minglun Liu, Yeajin Kim, Hasse Borup, Natsumi Tsuboi, Ryosuke Suho, Chloe Kiffer, Chloe Fedor, Soo Yeon Kim, Mariella Haubs, Jocelyn Zhu
Viola | Guanliang Zong, Jesus Rodolfo, Maiko Takimoto, Jeremy Kienbaum, Vladimir Babeshko
Cello | Brandon Xu, Angela Lee, Jonathan Butler, Tatsuki Sasanuma
Double Bass | Mariya Andonova, Kaden Henderson
Conductor | Ken-David Masur