After a fantastic season opener on June 30, Intermezzo Chamber Music Series held its second summer concert on July 7. The program featured music by Johannes Brahms and Arnold Schoenberg and showcased the virtuosity of Vedrana Subotic (Artistic Director and pianist), William Hagen (violinist), Laura Ha (violinist), J.T. Posadas (violist), Whittney Sjogren (violist), Lauren Posey (cellist), and Pegsoon Whang (cellist). I have become familiar with several of these musicians from previous Intermezzo concerts, so I was excited to hear them perform again. In her welcome and introduction, Vedrana Subotic described the evening’s program as being musical storytelling, comparable to the range of emotions and plot or character developments in a movie. Both pieces were highly expressive, and I found myself fully engaged in the story that the music was telling.
First, Vedrana Subotic, William Hagen, J.T. Posadas, and Lauren Posey performed Johannes Brahms’ four-movement Quartet for Piano and Strings in A Major, Op. 26. The first movement, Allegro ma non troppo, begins with a gentle melody in the piano that cycles through the other instruments and repeats as a familiar refrain throughout the movement. I particularly liked the sweetness of this melody. This movement also contains several intense, fiery passages for both the piano and the strings that require broad strokes and heavier pressure. I absolutely loved these portions of the movement! The second movement, Poco adagio, also contrasts tender melodies with more passionate sections. My favorite highlights from this movement were the interplay between the piano and the cello, followed in turn by the viola and violin; flowing piano passages that resembled a harp; and a sweet violin melody high on the strings. The “Scherzo” third movement is both playful and bold as explosive sections juxtapose light, moving melodies. The quartet concludes with an “Allegro” movement that features fast, crisp notes as well as moments of reprieve that are more legato. I especially enjoyed the complementarity of the piano and violin playing a similar melody toward the end of the movement. All four musicians infused their performances with dynamic energy and expression, and they beautifully navigated the quartet’s emotional nuances.
Second, William Hagen, Laura Ha, J.T. Posadas, Whittney Sjogren, Lauren Posey, and Pegsoon Whang performed Arnold Schoenberg’s String Sextet, Op. 4 – “Verklärte Nacht” (Transfigured Night). Inspired by Richard Dehmel’s poem of the same name, Schoenberg composed the piece as a single movement, yet it includes five sections that correspond to the five stanzas of the poem. The piece is richly emotive and multifaceted, beginning in a melancholy minor key and then evolving to a major key that evokes a sense of joy and hope. Several highlights captured my attention throughout the performance. I loved that the piece begins with soft, deep, deliberate notes in the violas that bring attention to lower tones in the strings. The violas continue to have prominent, recurring melodies that the musicians handled with great sensitivity. Similarly, the cello has a rich, passionate melody that Lauren Posey played exquisitely. The violin has several delicate, sweet solos high on the strings that require meticulous playing, and William Hagen executed these beautifully. Particularly intense passages midway through the piece feature accented notes that I really enjoyed. I loved the contrast between this and a fast-moving section that follows that has extremely light, airy notes. The piece subsequently has a very quiet ending that conveys how dramatic stillness can be.
Intermezzo Chamber Music Series has two remaining summer concerts at the Vieve Gore Concert Hall on the campus of Westminster University. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
- Monday, July 21, 2025 – music by Puccini, Hadyn, and Brahms
- Monday, August 4, 2025 – music by Brahms
Click here for information and tickets.
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