On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the University of Connecticut Chamber Ensembles held a concert featuring works spanning over centuries of music at von der Mehden Recital Hall. The selected works highlighted both the technical and expressive range of each musician.
The concert opened with a brass quintet that performed Giovanni Gabrieli’s “Sacro tempio d’honor,” a brass composition written specifically for the acoustics of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. While von der Mehden does not share these acoustics, this piece showcased the group’s strong sense of blend and attention to balance and rhythm.
The quintet continued with Gabrieli’s “Canzona Prima a 5,” furthering the exploration of Renaissance and brass textures.
The performance then shifted to George Frideric Handel’s “Das zitternde Glänzen der spielenden Wellen,” a piece that praises the beauty of nature and the divine through sound. Featuring piano, violin, cello and vocals, the ensemble was able to create a full, symphonic tone despite only having four performers.
In Matthew O’Callaghan’s “Peace,” piano and voice combined for a lyrical performance that created a tranquil, serene atmosphere. It offered a moment of contemporary reflection before returning to the traditional repertoire.
Beethoven’s “Cello Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2” displayed a call-and-response between the cello and piano while blending intensity with a sense of spiritual reflection.
“Élégie, Op. 24” by Gabriel Fauré was a mournful, lyrical piece that successfully communicated feelings of sadness and grief through only the sounds of the cello and piano.
Later selections included Beethoven’s “Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor Op. 30, No. 2” and “Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 1,” both of which historically highlighted Beethoven’s growing individuality and stylistic decisions as a musician.
The program also included Maurice Ravel’s “String Quartet in F Major,” Sergey Prokofiev’s “Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 119” and Antonín Dvořák’s “String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96 (“American”)” — each performed with precision and expressive confidence.
Across the evening, the ensembles demonstrated not only technical skill but also an understanding of the distinct emotional and historical contexts behind each piece, offering a clear reflection of the depth and versatility of UConn’s chamber program.