Whidbey Island Music Festival: String quartets by Mozart & Mendelssohn

Ignaz Pleyel — Gran Duo for violin and viola Op. 69
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — String Quintet in C major, K. 515
Felix Mendelssohn — String Quintet No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 87

Tekla Cunningham, violin
Corentin Pokorny, violin
Romeric Pokorny, viola
Vijay Chalasani, viola
Nathan Whittaker, cello

Pleyel – Grand Duo for violin and viola, Op. 69
Mozart – String quintet in C major, K. 515
Mendelssohn – String quintet No. 2, Op. 87

Mozart and Mendelssohn, while born a generation apart, shared striking commonalities. Both were prodigiously talented composers and performers, and both were raised in musical families with sisters who were also extremely gifted musicians. Two of the great masterworks of the chamber music literature, Mozart's C major quintet and Mendelssohn's great B-flat quintet were composed for the special combination of 2 violins, 2 violas, and cello. The addition of a second viola to the string quartet adds a special warmth and richness to the harmonies, as well as providing a more soloistic platform for the first viola.

About the festival:

The Whidbey Island Music Festival is delighted to announce its twelfth summer season of chamber music concerts. This season will present a wide-ranging series of six performances of four different programs, all on period instruments. The Whidbey Island Music Festival is a beloved annual event that presents great performances of of baroque and classical vocal and instrumental chamber music in relaxed and intimate venues on beautiful Whidbey Island, with repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Beethoven and beyond. We bring the past to life with vivid and moving concert performances on period instruments.

About Whidbey Island Music Festival

http://whidbeyislandmusicfestival.org/