Forging a Path

Shostakovich’s first two string quartets chart the uncertain beginnings of an artist navigating the early Soviet era in a world that demanded allegiance, control, and silence. In these early works, we hear both the playfulness of youthful invention and the first signs of a voice shaped by resistance. Across the continent, Elizabeth Maconchy was facing a different struggle. Denied opportunities in Britain’s musical establishment, she refused to wait for permission. Instead, she formed her own concert series and created the space that institutions would not. Her Third Quartet, composed in 1938, is bold, intense, and unapologetically personal. It is the sound of a composer not only finding her way, but forging it with conviction.

This program is a tribute to artistic beginnings, to the courage it takes to speak, especially when the world isn't listening.

Free wine to be served before, during, and after the performance.

Attire: Business Casual

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