Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts

Music of Rachmaninoff: Chamber Music for Voices and Cello

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

In celebration of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday, this chamber performance will prove to be a captivating tribute to the renowned Russian composer’s vocal and instrumental compositions. The program features a selection of Rachmaninoff’s exquisite songs and his expressive Sonata in G Minor for Cello and Piano, Opus 19.

The vocal portion of the concert showcases Rachmaninoff’s gift for melody and emotional depth. Repetoire for tonights performance will include,

How Few the Joys, Opus 14 no. 3

The Ring, Opus 26 no. 14

Dreams, Opus 38 no. 5

The Harvest of Sorrow, Opus 4 no. 5

The Dream, Opus 8 no 5

How Fair This Spot, Opus 21 no. 7

In the Mysterious Silence of the Night, Opus 4 no 3

These Summer Nights, Opus 14 no.5

O, Never Sing to Me Again, Opus 4 no. 4

O, Do Not Grieve Opus 14 no. 8

Spring Waters, Opus 14 no. 11

Performed by the Moores School of Music voice faculty,  Zachary Averyt, Cynthia Clayton, Timothy Jones, and Melanie Sonnenberg, and Brian Suits on piano. These songs will be sure to take the audience on a journey through themes of love, nature, and introspection, all characteristic of Rachmaninoff’s romantic and Russian-inspired style.

To conclude this celebratory evening, cellist Eunghee Cho and pianist Brian Suits collaborate to present Rachmaninoff’s Sonata in G Minor for Cello and Piano, Opus 19. This masterpiece consists of four movements: Lento — Allegro moderato, Allegro scherzando, Andante, and Allegro mosso. Through this sonata, the audience is treated to Rachmaninoff’s instrumental prowess, with Cho’s cello and Suits’ piano intertwining to create a harmonious and emotional musical dialogue.