From Sephardic Tradition to Schubert’S ‘DEATH AND THE MAIDEN’

$60/$70

Includes post-concert reception with wine and hors d'oeuvres

Thursday, January 30, 7.30PM

Blue Gallery

222 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017

Ariel Quartet

Matan Porat - 4 Ladino Songs
Schubert - String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D 810, Death and the Maiden

The Sephardic song tradition, rooted in the Jewish communities of medieval Spain, reflects a rich blend of musical influences from the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East. Matan Porat’s 4 Ladino Songs masterfully weaves these folk melodies into a classical framework, as the title Ladino Lied suggests, perhaps making it one of the few works in the Western classical tradition to incorporate such influences.

Song has long played a central role in classical music, serving as a bridge between intimate expression and larger musical forms. Schubert’s Death and the Maiden quartet is no exception, drawing inspiration from his earlier song of the same name to create a deeply moving work.

Though Schubert did not title the piece himself, its nickname comes from his song Death and the Maiden, with the melody forming the foundation of the quartet’s variation movement. The original poem by Matthias Claudius, featuring a haunting dialogue between death and a young maiden, set to Schubert’s music, imbues the quartet with lasting emotional resonance and thematic depth.

No refunds, no exchanges. Artists, programs, dates, and prices are subject to change.

Programs and artists are subject to change. If an event presented by Aspect Chamber Music Series is cancelled or postponed, we will announce the change—if time permits—by email, phone, a letter sent to your home, and on www.aspectmusic.net.