Arpeggione Ensemble arpeggione.ensemble@gmail.com 49 Standley St, Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 500-7766

For immediate release

Concert dedicated to Clara Schumann’s legacy 

 The North Shore’s own Arpeggione Ensemble continues its second season with “Lark Ascending: Clara Schumann”. After a successful Marblehead debut with “Songs of the Seafarer”, Arpeggione turns its attention to the extraordinary 19th c. virtuosa, composer, entrepreneur, teacher, and muse Clara Schumann. Performing Clara’s own works alongside works inspired by her artistry, this program will give an unprecedented look into Clara Schumann’s life, works, and influence on the musical world. 

Arpeggione’s “Lark Ascending” series highlights the wide-ranging, yet largely unacknowledged, influence of women composers on the musical world. Though the compositional lives of women such as Clara Schumann were limited by the culture they lived in, if we recognize their myriad roles as performers, teachers, salonnières, mentor, and editors, their immeasurable importance comes into focus—indeed, it seems that the history of classical music should be written through the stories and networks of women. 

“Lark Ascending: Clara Schumann” will take place on Saturday, February 17 at 4pm at St. Michael’s Church in Marblehead. A second performance will be presented at St. John’s Episcopal in Beverly on Sunday, February 18 at 4pm. 

Founded in 2022, Arpeggione is becoming well-known for its joyful, accessible, immersive chamber music performances. Arpeggione performs a full season of concerts on the North Shore, with outreach programs that bring the same world-class programming to underserved audiences. Arpeggione creates community through shared artistic experiences and brings beloved masterpieces out of the concert hall to those who would not normally be able to experience them live.

In “Lark Ascending: Clara Schumann”, Arpeggione’s musicians will be joined by fortepianist and Schumann expert David Kim. An improvisation for solo piano in the style of Clara Schumann will open the program, followed by works by Clara and Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Arpeggione’s musicians will be performing on instruments original to or copied from Clara Schumann’s time, including flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and a Viennese-style fortepiano by Rod Regier of Freeport, ME. 

Arpeggione’s members are among the country’s foremost experts in historical performance and hold leading positions with the most prestigious early music ensembles in the United States. “Among the finest pianists of his generation” (WholeNote), guest artist David Kim has been acclaimed as a musician who “rivals Golden Age pianists. … A performer of artistry, integrity, and interest” (Early Music America).

Performances:

Saturday, February 17 at 4pm, St. Michael’s Church, 26 Pleasant St, Marblehead, MA Suggested donation $15-50, reservations encouraged

Sunday, February 18 at 4pm, St. John’s Episcopal, 705 Hale St., Beverly Farms, MA By donation 

More info at www.arpeggione-ensemble.com