Experience a dynamic fusion of classical mastery and contemporary innovation with GRAMMY®-nominated PUBLIQuartet, praised by The Washington Post as “the epitome of modern chamber music”, in collaboration with sensational mezzo-soprano Renée Rapier. Be the first to hear the world premiere of GRAMMY®-nominated Clarice Assad‘s new work exploring the unbreakable spirit of women who dare to challenge societal norms and fight for their convictions. The remainder of the program explores the resonance between contemporary, blues, jazz, free, and rock-inflected music – all of which trace their roots back to the Black and Indigenous music that inspired Dvořák’s “American” String Quartet. Don’t miss this electrifying concert bridging the past, present, and future of classical music!
Plus, join us earlier in the day for an exclusive composer talk with Clarice Assad. Learn more and register for this free event here.
Curtis Stewart, violin
Rubén Rengel, violin
Nick Revel, viola
Hamilton Berry, cello
Renée Rapier, mezzo-soprano
Clarice Assad, composer
PROGRAM
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Voodoo Dolls
DVOŘÁK/PUBLIQUARTET What is American
Improvisations on String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, American
I. Allegro ma non troppo
FODÉ LASSANA DIABATÉ Sunjata’s Time
(arr. Jacob Garchik)
VIJAY IYER Dig the Say
CLARICE ASSAD Chronicles of Ghosts | Chapter III: Whispers from the Pirate Queen [WORLD PREMIERE]
ELLINGTON Come Sunday for string quartet and mezzo-soprano
(arr. Hamilton Berry)
PERRY Prelude
(arr. Hamilton Berry)
PUBLIQuartet MIND | THE | GAP: Wild Women
Improvisations on:
TINA TURNER Black Coffee
BETTY DAVIS They Say I’m Different
ALICE COLTRANE Er Ra
IDA COX Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues
*Program subject to change. Full program notes available the week before the concert.
Chronicles of Ghosts
Chapter III: Whispers from the Pirate Queen
“Whispers from the Pirate Queen” explores the timeless bond between two remarkable women: Grace O’Malley, the legendary 16th-century Irish pirate queen, and Anne Hutchinson, the influential Puritan spiritual leader and pioneer of the 17th century. Through a series of mystical encounters and dreams, Grace O’Malley’s spirit reaches across time to guide, inspire, and empower Anne Hutchinson in her journey of courage and resilience. The story weaves together fact and fiction, history and fantasy to create a multi-layered narrative that speaks to the enduring power of female strength, solidarity, and legacy. As Grace O’Malley’s whispers echo through the ages, she symbolizes the unbreakable spirit of women who dare to challenge societal norms and fight for their convictions.
About Chronicles of Ghosts:
Chronicles of Ghosts: Extraordinary Women of the 16th Century explores the lives of women who lived during the Renaissance through storytelling and songs. The narratives precisely showcase these women’s feats and biographical details as recorded in history. The work utilizes elements of mythology, quantum physics, mysticism, and historical biography to bridge connections between the past and present. Precisely, the storytellers convey the legacies of these deceased women, who existed in different eras, dimensions, and locations. Yet, each has a personal relationship with the “ghost” from the Renaissance era that they are channeling. By threading these stories into an exploration of the meaning of legacy, Chronicles aims to illuminate the indestructible nature of human bonds and sorrows that defy the bounds of time itself, as well as pay homage to these extraordinary women who have been mostly forgotten in the sands of time.
