DC is a great city for music. Last weekend I was invited by the Chiarina Chamber Players (Chiarina was Robert Schumann’s nickname for his wife Clara) to hear their guests, the internationally-acclaimed Attacca Quartet at St. Mark’s Church in Capitol Hill. St. Mark’s is one of my favorite venues, magnificent and intimate, with superb acoustics.

Image
St. Marks
Nicole Lacroix's view inside St. Mark's

The Grammy Award-winning Attacca Quartet is billed as a “quartet for modern times.” Saturday’s program featured two works by Caroline Shaw, Blueprint and Valencia. Other highlights included Beethoven’s “Harp” Quartet and the ebullient (for Shostakovich) Piano Quintet in G minor, Op.57 with Chiarina co-founder Efi Hackmey at the keyboard. Musical bliss! It was the perfect antidote to a dreary weekend. 

Image
Refurbished Steinway recently acquired by Chiarina
The refurbished Steinway recently acquired by Chiarina

Chiarina’s upcoming concerts are “Form, Shape, Groove,” Sunday, November 6th and Winter Journey (Schubert’s song cycle with Baritone Randall Scarlata, Sunday, December 4, both at St. Mark’s. Details at Chiarina.org

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.