Livewire 15 — Ensemble Bravura

With characteristic elan and virtuosity, Ensemble Bravura and conductor Philip Mann present a multifaceted and poignant Livewire 15: Blazing Trails festival finale exploring human interconnection. Memory, friendship, and remembrance bind works of disparate traditions together in a contemporary program featuring two of Ensemble Bravura’s principal musicians as soloists. International luminary of the bassoon Kim Walker is highlighted in two works written for her: Karlheinz Stockhausen’s In Freundschaft for costumed solo bassoonist with movement, and an evocative concerto, and Trilogy by David Baker, which draws upon blues and jazz idioms with an electric bass and percussion joining the ensemble. Alexander Bedenko, principal clarinet, performs Jennifer Higdon’s hauntingly beautiful Soliloquy, which is fittingly paired with Joan Tower’s In Memory, as both works are deeply personal statements of intimate connection. A final addition to the program is the Melodia of Miroslav Skoryk, which offers a profound and timely example of the apotheosis of interconnection — solidarity.

With its recent recording debut for SONY Classics, Ensemble Bravura, is an innovative group of soloists and versatile artists committed to distinctive performances of masterworks, championing the music of living composers, and collaborating with leading artists and creators. Conducted by founding artistic director, Philip Mann, Ensemble Bravura is led by Naumberg laureate and concert artist, Grace Park. Members appear regularly on the world’s stages as soloists, are winners of numerous international competitions, and perform as principal musicians in great orchestras such as the London and Chicago Symphonies, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, and organizations like the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society.