A beautifully balanced program. We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Britten’s death within the broader context of America’s 250th anniversary – two milestones that invite reflection on legacy, continuity and reinvention. 

The program opens with Britten’s arrangement of Purcell’s Chaconne, a tribute by one english composer to another across 250 years. Britten admired Purcell as the father of English music and reimagined his works with modern harmonic color and expressive clarity. Then the program followed by Britten’s own string quartet no.2 which was written in 1945 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Purcell’s death. His cello sonata composed during the Cold War, an intimate collaboration with Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, speaks to communication across borders and artistic friendship beyond politics – resonating with the broader ideals of connection and liberty that mark America’s 250th celebration. 

It’s impossible not to program Britten’s music without Mozart’s presence in a concert. Britten once called Mozart “the greatest genius of all musicians” and admired his “purity of style”. This influenced Britten’s own meticulous craftsmanship: his textures are transparent, counterpoint is clean, and even his most complex music never feels cluttered. 

Henry Purcell: Chaconne in G Minor arr. by Britten (7") 

Terra String Quartet 

Benjamin Britten: String Quartet No. 2 in C Major, Op. 36 (32") 

Terra String Quartet 

Benjamin Britten: Sonata for Cello and Piano in C Major, Op.65 (20”) 

Clancy Newman, cello; Kate Liu, piano 

Wolfgang A. Mozart: String Quintet in G minor for two violins, two violas, and cello in G minor, K.516 (25”) Terra String Quartet, Che-Hung Chen, 2nd viola