the first program of perspectives x psc highlights two of amy beach’s tremendous chamber music works and felix mendelssohn’s piano trio in d minor. an acclaimed piano soloist herself, beach championed many of mendelssohn’s works, including his piano concerto in d minor.

Nikolai Medvedev, piano | Usha Kapoor, violin | Jonathan Swensen, cello

the second concert of perspectives x psc showcases compositions by sisters lili and nadia boulanger. lili boulanger was the first woman to win the prestigious prix de rome when she was only nineteen. although she died tragically a few years later, she left behind a remarkable collection of chamber music. nadia boulanger studied composition with fauré for seven years at the paris conservatoire, going on to become one of the most prolific composition teachers of her generation. in one of her last international tours, she conducted the new york philharmonic performing fauré’s requiem.

the third concert of perspectives x psc focuses on the composer rebecca clarke, who was an incredible violist and composer. she entered her piano trio to the berkshire festival composition competition under a male pseudonym to combat the systemic sexism present in music competitions of the day, eventually winning second prize. both she and antonín dvořák took inspiration for their music from folk and traditional music and dance, lending the titles of dumka and dumke, respectively, for the outer pieces of this program.

the fourth program for perspectives x psc is centered around grażyna bacewicz’s monumental output for violin. although less encumbered by systemic patriarchal oppression than other composers in the series, bacewicz composed and performed before, during, and after each of the two world wars despite the enormous difficulties they caused. her confidence and bravery shines through in her works, many of which she premiered herself on the violin. korngold’s massive suite was also composed for piano left hand, two violins, and cello, at the request and commission of pianist paul wittgenstein, who lost his right arm during world war one.

the final concert of perspectives x psc celebrates the grandiosity of gubaidulina’s and brahms’s piano quintets. gubaidulina was a prolific composer from russia, whose violin concerto, offertorium, smuggled out of the ussr, brought her to international attention. she eventually left russia and settled near hamburg for the last third of her life. brahms, origionally from hamburg, spent the last decades of his life in his new home of vienna. a theme of migration, whether forced or by free will, and finding home in new places is central to this final concert.