Kyiv Chamber Ensemble

In this program, the Kyiv Chamber Ensemble weaves together two distinct musical narratives. The first half features works by Ukrainian composers for string quartet.

Zoltan Almashi’s "City of Mary", composed in 2022, is a profound personal reflection on the tragedy of Mariupol, a city that became a symbol of resilience. It is paired with Vasyl Barvinsky’s String Quartet on Ukrainian Folk Themes. The history of this piece is inextricably linked to the composer's own tragic fate: after Barvinsky was arrested by the Soviet regime, his manuscripts were burned. Upon returning from exile, he spent years painstakingly reconstructing his lost legacy.

The second half of the evening turns to European chamber classics. Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44 is one of the most influential works in the genre. Written in the mid-19th century, it introduced a vibrant new ensemble sound, forever shaping the evolution of the piano quintet.