January 12, 14, Friday 4pm, Saturday 5pm
St. Paul's Church, cardo 6
$400, $300, $150

Macondo Chamber Players, Pro Musica - concert

Pro Musica welcomes back the exceptionally talented piano quintet, the Macondo Chamber Players. Regarded as one of the most exceptional small ensembles in Latin America, the reputation of these young and talented musicians keeps them in high demand. There is “…something extraordinary, capable of setting new precedents in the musical panoramic of Latin-America,” about them (El Comercio). They will perform two different concerts for Pro Musica on Friday and Sunday, January 12 & 14 at 5 pm at St. Paul’s Church on Calle Cardo.

Four of the group hail from Latin America and one is from the United States. First violinist, Emily Daggett Smith integrates seamlessly with the youthful, eclectic group of Latin Americans, including violinist Pablo Stredel and Columbian Raúl García; Dominican pianist, Carlos Vargas; and from Ecuador, cellist Francisco Vila. Described as having “impeccable technique”, their comparatively young age seems “contrary to the quality of sounds, the precise gestures, the poetic sounds” of their playing (El Pais).

The classical quintet was established in its most familiar form following the phenomenal success of Schumann's Piano Quintet in 1842, which combined the piano with a string quartet, changing the typical instrumentation of the time. His Quintet, which concert goers will hear on Friday, was created during a happy and prolific time, and dedicated to his muse, Clara. Love treated Schumann so well he wrote three string quartets, a piano quintet, quartet, and trio in quick succession at this time. The Piano Quintet is an iconic composition which defines the quintet’s role in classical music.

Also on Friday, the Quintet will play works by Fauré, Shostakovich and Golijov. Fauré’s quest for innovation led him through breathtaking and heart-wrenching creations, including our piece, his Piano Quintet No. 1, that haunt listeners’ imaginations even to this day. Shostakovich's Piano Trio No.1, written while he was still a teen, was inspired by a girl he met in the Crimea, and is a paen to young love. Golijov's Tenebrae, a multi-faceted work of many dimensions, provides contrasts between the macro and micro views of reality.

On Sunday, Franck's Piano Quintet, dedicated to his good friend Camille Saint-Saëns, will be featured.. Heavily influenced by his time as an organist, Franck’s work is vivid and dynamic. Dvořák's second Piano Quintet will be another highlight because, on hearing the opening cello solo, one realizes that here is confrontation with greatness of spirit. While it has been proposed that Romantic finales are often less-strong movements, this spirited Finale in that tradition fully belies the suggestion with its energetic virtuosity and verve, spiced with contrapuntal variety.

Tickets are available online with no booking fee through our website; at La Tienda in the Biblioteca Publica and at the door of the concert 45 minutes before the start.

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