In response to the sold-out performance of the Shostakovich and Weinberg Piano Trios last season, this recital pairs the composers’ intimately connected piano quintets.
Shostakovich would have written his quintet in 1940 shortly before meeting Weinberg for the first time. Fleeing the invading German forces in 1941, Weinberg made his way to Uzbekistan eventually meeting Shostakovich. After this meeting, Weinberg stated: “It was as if I had been born anew…Although I took no lessons from him (Shostakovich) he was the first person to whom I would show each of my new works.” Weinberg’s Quintet shows his musical admiration of the older Shostakovich, while still retaining his own steely personality throughout. In Weinberg’s own words he stated: “My Moral Duty is to write about the horrors that befell mankind in our century.” These quintets bookend WWII and show each composer’s musical attempt at struggling to find hope through their art.
The Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices is made possible through the generous support of Marilyn Ziering alongside the many donors who are inspired by this incredibly important work at the Colburn School.