[Photo: BOSTON COURT PASADENA]
Los Angeles’ Brightwork Ensemble isn’t your grandfather’s chamber group. Sure, they wield the classical tools – violins, piano, percussion – but their sights are set on galaxies far, far away. On March 30th, they descend upon Boston Court Pasadena for a concert titled “I Will Learn To Love A Person,” a program that promises to be as emotionally charged as a nebula and as vast as the cosmos itself.
The classical new music sextet based in Los Angeles, will be performing at Boston Court Pasadena on Saturday, March 30 – an evening dedicated to exploring themes of love, longing, the beauty of green skies, and the vastness of the universe through music.
The event, which showcases emotionally charged and evocative musical works by contemporary composers such as Chris Cerrone and AJ McCaffery, begins at 8 p.m.
“We’re looking for a balance,” says Artistic Director Aaron Kallay, aiming to bridge the gap between accessible melodies and “something a little bit more challenging.” Think of it as a sonic adventure, with familiar harmonies serving as launchpads for explorations into more daring sonic territories.
The intimacy of Boston Court further fuels this adventurous spirit. “You can hear them breathing,” Kallay says of the audience, a testament to the powerful connection forged in such a close setting.
But Brightwork’s ambitions extend far beyond a single performance. They see themselves as ambassadors, fostering a love for classical music while simultaneously blurring the lines between genres. “There are quite a few composers who have taken pop music and rearranged it for classical ensemble,” Kallay reveals, hinting at future concerts where Radiohead might rub shoulders with Beethoven.
The evening kicks off with a 4 pm showcase of the future: ten world premieres by high school composers mentored by Brightwork’s resident composer, Nina Shekhar. It’s a testament to Brightwork’s commitment to nurturing new voices, ensuring that the constellations of classical music continue to expand.
Prepare to be surprised, challenged, and ultimately, moved.
“These will be pieces that one would listen to and immediately be drawn to the music for some reason, the beauty of the sound or a sound that is very much something that they’ve heard before,” Kallay explained. “I’m looking to balance that with something that is a little bit more challenging for the audience. So, different kinds of sounds, different kinds of combinations, and maybe the text is in a slightly different language.”
Kallay added that Boston Court Pasadena’s intimate setting adds a unique dynamic to the performance.
“It definitely changes how we feel about that concert,” he notes. “When you have an audience member 10 feet away from you and you can hear them breathing and feel them moving their programs around, it really changes how you perceive your connection with the audience.”
Boston Court said the performance will show the combination of the renowned reputation of Brightwork Ensemble, the emotionally charged and evocative nature of the musical works being performed, and the sponsorship by Boston Court Pasadena, which contributes to the cultural enrichment of the local community and the broader appreciation of classical music.
Looking beyond the upcoming event, Brightwork and Kallay plan to continue evolving by bridging the gap between pop music and classical music. They also plan to commission some new works from composers, especially from underrepresented groups within classical music.
“There are quite a few composers who have taken popular music and rearranged it for classical ensemble,” Kallay said. “There’s these pieces by Radiohead that have been arranged for solo piano, and there’s Dolly Parton tunes and Beatles tunes who have been given the classical treatment for our ensemble. One of the things we’re going to look forward to next year is presenting some of these pieces in a big concert.”
Before the 8 p.m. concert, Boston Court will present the Final Concert of Brightwork’s High School Composer Initiative at 4 p.m. This will feature 10 world premieres by middle and high school student composers, written for members of Brightwork Ensemble under the guidance of composer mentor-in-residence Nina Shekhar.
“We really want to help train the next generation of composers, especially composers who don’t have access to lessons or having their music played, which is why we keep that program,” Kallay said. “Our program is completely free to any high school student, so we keep it free so that we can hopefully get some people who don’t have access into that program.”
For tickets to the concert on Saturday, visit https://bostoncourtpasadena.
To learn more about the High School Composer Initiative, visit https://brightworknewmusic.
