River Rhapsodies Series

For three years River Rhapsodies has been the must-have ticket in Little Rock! The 2009-2010 season again promises an unforgettable experience with grand music in a dramatic setting—sweeping views of the city skyline, sunset vistas, and the Arkansas River flowing nearby—as you enjoy composers from Bach to Ravel. 

PASSIONATE PAIRINGS

A CENTURY OF MASTERPIECES

October 20, 2009  

Quapaw Quartet

Sturgis Quartet

Andrew von Oeyen, piano

 

HAYDN String Quartet No. 30, “The Joke”

MENDELSSOHN Streichquartett Nr. 4 e-moll Op. 44 No. 2

FRANCK Piano Quintet

 

Savor music that encompasses a century of creative genius—from Haydn’s “Joke” Quartet, nicknamed for its playful finale, to the music of Mendelssohn, to Franck’s stormy quintet for piano and strings, whose bold harmonies and emotional sweep propel it to near-symphonic dimensions.

RAVISHING RAVEL

December 1, 2009

Rockefeller Quartet

David Renfro, horn

Robin Dauer, horn

Brent Shires, horn

Scott Milichamp, horn

 

BEETHOVEN Sextet for Two Horns and String Quartet

HINDEMITH Sonata for Four Horns  

RAVEL String Quartet

 

Rich, resonant sound and the spectacle of gleaming horns, front and center, make the first half of this gorgeous program a stunner! Then, the glow of strings lights up the stage with one of the masterpieces of the repertoire—Ravel’s sensuous quartet, shimmering with colors, rhythms, and haunting beauty.

DARK EMOTIONS

January 19, 2010 

Quapaw Quartet

 

SHOSTAKOVICH String Quartet No. 3

BRAHMS String Quartet No.1

 

The range of Shostakovich’s expression in his Third Quartet—from sweet and playful to dark and intense—inspires the virtuosity of the performers and grips the listener. Ever the perfectionist, Brahms may have burned some 20 string quartets before letting this masterpiece—cast in the same compelling key as his First Symphony—see the light of day.

 

THE 4 Bs: BACH, BARTOK, BRITTEN & BEETHOVEN

March 2, 2010

Rockefeller Quartet

Sturgis Quartet

Gerry Gibson, oboe

 

J. C. BACH Quartet in B-Flat for Oboe and Strings

BARTOK String Quartet No. 3

BRITTEN Phantasy Quartet

BEETHOVEN String Quartet Op. 18, No. 1

 

Our principal oboist and the Rockefeller Quartet blend wind and string sonorities in this appealing mix of music that’s graceful, romantic, and imaginative. Concluding the concert is the first of Beethoven’s 16 string quartets—already a tour de force that foreshadows his mastery of the form.

Video Clip | Order Tickets

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BRILLIANT BRASS…STIRRING STRINGS

April 13, 2010

ASO Brass Quintet

Rockefeller Quartet

Sturgis Quartet

Kiril Laskarov, violin

Drew Irvin, violin

Carl Anthony, harpsichord

 

EWALD Brass Quintet No. 1 

J. S. BACH Double Violin Concerto 

SCHOENBERG String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7 

 

Enjoy the dazzle of the ASO Brass Quintet in a work by an illustrious Tchaikovsky contemporary and pioneer of the genre. Step back two centuries for Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, in which the two soloists weave an intricate tapestry of sound. Schoenberg’s dramatic musical canvas is unique in conception and exciting to hear.

 

[Ensemble Personnel]

Quapaw Quartet
Eric Hayward, violin
Meredith Maddox, violin
Ryan Mooney, viola
Melita Hunsinger, cello

Rockefeller Quartet
Christian Baker, violin
Darby BeDell, violin
Katherine Reynolds, viola
Daniel Cline, cello

Sturgis Quartet
Andrew Harvey, violin
Geoffrey Robson, violin
Tatania Kotcherguina, viola
David Gerstein, cello