The Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, with guest tenor Timothy Stoddard, will perform the rarely heard masterpiece, Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings by Benjamin Britten, Bela Bartok’s Divertimento for Strings, and Jessie Montgomery’s “Strum” in two performances, February 10, 2024 at Levy Hall of Rodef Shalom and February 11, 2024 at Calvary United Methodist Church.

Written in 1943, in the midst of the Second World War, Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings musically renders six poems that contemplate night and sleep. Of the work, Stoddard observes, “I love the captivating and sometimes strange ambient vocabulary Britten uses as the poetry is translated through him into his compositional style. The strings are a welcoming environment for the vocal instrument. And while the horn has impressive resonant power, Britten asks it for much restraint. There are moments of lush, full music making, but I really think Britten’s Serenade is a great example of nuance and sensitivity.”

The orchestra will also perform the Pittsburgh premiere of contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery’s “Strum.” Of the piece, Montgomery writes, “Within Strum I utilized texture motives, layers of rhythmic or harmonic ostinati that string together to form a bed of sound for melodies to weave in and out. The strumming pizzicato serves as a texture motive and the primary driving rhythmic underpinning of the piece. Drawing on American folk idioms and the spirit of dance and movement, the piece has a kind of narrative that begins with fleeting nostalgia and transforms into ecstatic celebration.”

Tickets are $30 if purchased in advance and $10 for students, and they are available online at www.copgh.org.

For more information:

The Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh: http://www.copgh.org/
Timothy Stoddard: https://www.timothystoddardtenor.com/about/
Jessie Montgomery and “Strum”: https://www.jessiemontgomery.com/work/strum-for-string-quartet/