American Chamber Music Society: Transatlantic Portraits

The American Chamber Music Society Presents: TRANSATLANTIC PORTRAITS "Electric . . . [the] performance extracted all the tensions, fun, and charm that can be found" ~THIRD COAST REVIEW TRANSATLANTIC PORTRAITS features chamber music of beloved composers Brahms, Mahler, and America's own Arthur Foote, in a deeply expressive program that crosses continents and generations. The concert showcases four brilliant young artists: GRAMMY-nominated cellist Julian Schwarz; virtuoso pianist Marika Bournaki; Vega Quartet violist Joseph Skerik; and ACMS Artistic Director and violinist Eric Gratz. Mahler’s Piano Quartet (featured in the 2010 psychological thriller Shutter Island) captures a glimpse of a remarkable talent in its earliest stages, while Arthur Foote’s 3 Pieces for Cello and Piano reveals a compelling American voice too rarely heard on concert stages. Brahms’s towering Piano Quartet in C minor, a work he wrestled with for nearly two decades, brings the evening to a thrilling close. Schwarz and Bournaki will be signing copies of their newly released album, Arthur Foote: The Complete Cello Works. ACMS performs all concerts at PianoForte, an intimate 75-seat concert hall with spectacular acoustics in downtown Chicago's South Loop neighborhood. A reception and meet-and-greet with the performers will follow this 90-minute program. Tickets are $30 GA/$10 students. -------- The American Chamber Music Society is deeply invested in inspiring and connecting with our local community. As one of the most intimate classical music experiences in Chicago, it is our honor to enrich our culture by performing repertoire ranging from centuries ago to the present, providing a variety of educational opportunities and offering tickets at a discounted price. There is nothing like sitting a few feet away from the best musicians in the world, especially when many of them are from your home town. I am confident the diverse and innovative programming of our events will leave you moved, exhilarated, and eager to return. –ERIC GRATZ, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR