Ekstasis celebrates Rachmaninoff’s 150th birth year with the third movement of his grand cello and piano sonata, op. 19. Rachmaninoff is known for his piano concerti and in this masterful work, we hear orchestral writing on a smaller scale, displaying multiple emotions from quiet desperation to a great revelation of love and joy. The program also includes movements from the stirring and epic Sonata by Croatian late-Romantic composer Dora Pejačević; Ritournelle by the great female Czech composer Vítězslava Kaprálová, full of scampering mischief; and Prokofiev’s early work, Ballade, which reveals intensely dark and mysterious characters.
You're invited to hear this music on Live from Hochstein on Wednesday October 25th at 12:10pm, in person* at the Hochstein Performance Hall (50 N. Plymouth Avenue, downtown Rochester) or by listening to the live broadcast on WXXI Classical.
The Ekstasis Duo (cellist Natasha Farny and pianist Eliran Avni) performs music for cello and piano and their mission is to create compelling programming celebrating masterpieces alongside the secret jewels of lesser-known works. With a focus on storytelling that pinpoints an aspect of the human condition or creates an atmosphere through sound, their concerts offer solo and chamber music works.
Since their debut in 2018, The Ekstasis Duo has appeared on distinguished series such as New York City’s Merkin Hall and Eastman’s Morning Chamber Music Series. The duo produced their first CD, “Women’s Voices,” in fall 2021. They are currently in the finishing stages of a second CD, “… From the Shadows,” to be released in fall 2023.
Live from Hochstein with host Mona Seghatoleslami is a series of midday concerts by some of the finest artists in our area broadcast live from The Hochstein Performance Hall. Each of these free concerts runs from 12:10-12:50 p.m., giving downtown business people, teachers, families, students, and friends an opportunity to enjoy classical music during the day. You can also hear an encore broadcast of Live from Hochstein later the same day at 10 p.m. on WXXI Classical.
* Masks and vaccination are encouraged but not required. Please note that only bottled water is allowed in the newly renovated hall.