The programme for our up and coming concert is a dramatic mix of new and old, and 2 of our 3 works are inspired by works of literature and film with a crime of passion at their heart. The Dying Swan piano trio by Joby Talbot was written to accompany a silent film made in 1916, which tells the tale of a lovelorn mute girl, who takes solace in ballet. With her pale, tragic looks, she fascinates an aristocratic would-be artist who wishes to capture the pallor of death, and thinks he has found his perfect model in her. But when she is in reunified with her old love, happiness changes her demeanour and the artist, in a fit of rage at the loss of his muse, murders her. The 1st String Quartet by Janacek, sub-titled ‘The Kreutzer Sonata’ is inspired by the novella by Tolstoy, which takes as its name the violin and piano sonata by Beethoven. This piece is played by the wife of the jealous narrator of the story. He is incensed by his wife’s musical collaboration with a violinist, and unable to understand or tolerate their artistic (and possible, maybe even imagined, physical) connection, he murders her.
The dramatic stories told by these works promise an emotional and exciting musical evening, and we are looking forward to performing them on Wednesday 9th December at the Drake, Lynedoch Street, Glasgow. We hope you will join us there!
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Drake Ensemble 