Chamber Music from Paris

Program

• Franck Andantino Quietoso in E-flat, Op. 6
• Faure Elegy Op. 24
• Saint-Saens Piano Quartet in B-flat, Op. 41
• Faure Piano Quartet No.1 in C minor, Op. 15

Louisa Stonehill – Violin, Masumi Per Rostad – Viola, Thomas Mesa – Cello, Nicholas Burns – Piano

These four thrilling pieces of chamber music were all written in and inspired by the evocative city of Paris.

British-American violinist, Louisa Stonehill is a dedicated chamber musician and serves as Artistic & Program Director of Ashuelot Concerts. She has recorded four critically-acclaimed albums for Nimbus and Lyrita and performed all over the world, from London to New York to most recently, Beijing. Louisa performs on a modern violin, made in 2023 by one of the world’s leading violin makers, Glen Collins.

Masumi Per Rostad regularly tours internationally and has performed at many of the most prominent festivals, including Marlboro, Spoleto USA, Music@Menlo, Caramoor, Music in the Vineyards, Bowdoin, and the Aspen Music Festival. His guest violist collaborations include programs with the St Lawrence, Ying, Pavel Haas, Miró, Verona, and Emerson String Quartets, as well as with the Horszowski Trio. He toured and recorded extensively as a former member of the International Sejong Soloists. He can be heard on the Cedille Records, Naxos, Hyperion, Musical Observations, Bridge, and Tzadik record labels. He performs on an Amati viola made in Cremona, Italy in 1619.

Cuban-American cellist Tommy Mesa received the 2023 Sphinx Medal of Excellence Award, won First Prize in the 2016 Sphinx Competition, and Astral Artists 2017 National Auditions. He has appeared as soloist with major orchestras such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, The Cleveland Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Tommy plays a cello on loan by Tarisio made by Guilio Gigli, c.1789.

British Pianist Nicholas Burns has dedicated most of his professional life to chamber music after initially pursuing a conducting career. He regularly appears as part of the Steinberg Duo & Samara Piano Quartet. He has performed all over the world and recorded four critically acclaimed albums for Nimbus & Lyrita. Nick is the Artistic & Executive Director of Ashuelot Concerts.