Two Cello Sonatas
◴ Saturday, January 10th • 7PM
⚲ Emeryville
Join cellist Chase Park and pianist Audrey Vardanega as they present an intimate program featuring two late cello sonatas by Gabriel Fauré and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Reflection & Exaltation
Written in the twilight of Fauré’s life, the enigmatic Sonata in g minor was originally intended as a funeral march to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Napoleon’s death, exploring themes of loss, reflection and redemption.
Lyricism & Transcendence
The last of Beethoven’s cello sonatas, No. 5 in D major is one of the first great works of the composer’s ‘late’ period, exemplifying the daring innovation and transcendent spirit that still moves listeners deeply to this day.
Program
Chase Park
Cello
An avid chamber musician, Chase Park has had the privilege of collaborating and performing with esteemed artists such as Mitsuko Uchida, Jonathan Biss, Scott St. John, Samuel Rhodes, Hsin-Yun Huang, Anthony Mcgill, Carmit, Zori, Atar Arad, Meng Chieh Liu, Benjamin Schmid, Pamela Frank, and Itzhak Perlman.
He made his Alice Tully Hall debut performing the Haydn Cello Concerto in D major with the Juilliard Chamber Orchestra in December of 2021. His love for chamber music has resulted in fellowships at the Perlman Music Program “Littles” and Chamber Music Workshop, Ravinia Steans Institute, the Marlboro Music Festival, and Caramoor’s Evnin Rising Stars Mentoring Program.
Audrey Vardanega
Praised as a “[musically] eloquent” (San Francisco Classical Voice) player “with the kind of freedom, authority, and strength…that one expects from the world’s finest pianists” and a “bewitching musical presence,” American pianist and arts entrepreneur Audrey Vardanega has performed as a solo and collaborative pianist across Europe, China, and the United States.
In response to her passion for bringing artists together for opportunities for performance, the creation of new work, and interdisciplinary collaboration, Audrey founded Musaics of the Bay in 2019.