Pianist Natalia Rachford performs tonight

Monday, November 5, 2012

Pianist and DePauw School of Music faculty member Natalia Rachford will present a provocative program of chamber music for piano, clarinet, and cello on Monday, November 5, in Thompson Recital Hall at the Green Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m.

Rachford will be joined by guest artists Trina Gross on clarinet and by cellist Polina Umansky.

The program, curiously, consists of only two works--which, not at all coincidentally, have the very same name: "Trio for Clarinet, Violoncello and Piano."

The first, written in four movements in the 1850s, is by a relatively little known French composer Jeanne-Louise Farrenc.

The second work, also in four movements, was written some 35 years later by a highly acclaimed German composer and conductor -- the imposing Johannes Brahms.

"Historically and to Farrenc's credit, she was the only female professor of music to be hired at the famous Paris Conservatory during the nineteenth century -- a position that she held for nearly 30 years," said Suzanne Hassler, communications coordinator for the school of music.

"And although Farrenc was never widely recognized for her work, she is thought to have been very influential to other composers who followed her. Which prompts the inevitable question: Did Brahms know of her work? One has to wonder..." said Hassler. "I am very eager to hear these two works performed back-to-back on the same program."

Listen for possible influences in the two pieces on Monday night.

General admission tickets to the faculty chamber concert are $3. All students and seniors over 65 are free.

For additional information or for assistance purchasing tickets call 658-4827, drop by the Green Center Box Office, located at 605 S. College Avenue, between noon--4 p.m. and 6--8 p.m., or visit www.depauw.edu/music/tickets.

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