Clarinet Quintet Masterpieces

The Magic of Five

Artists
Robert Patterson, clarinet
Zenas Hsu, violin
Annie Rabbat, violin
Cara Pogossian, viola
Ronald Lowry, cello

Clarinetist Robert Patterson joins a stellar set of string players to present two enthralling masterpieces for clarinet quintet—the sublime Mozart K. 581 and the Brahms Op. 115, an autumnal work of profound emotion and reflection.

Program

Johannes Brahms, Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581 (“Stadler”)

About the Artists

Clarinetist Robert Patterson is an active soloist. Currently scheduled performances include Aaron Copland’s clarinet concerto with the Modesto Symphony—where he is acting principal clarinet—in addition to appearances in Baltimore and Taipei. An advocate for contemporary music, Mr. Patterson has commissioned works for clarinet and piano from composers Clarice Assad and Jessica Meyer. He will present world premiere performances of these works next year. A passionate educator, he holds a faculty position at Boston University and is a frequent coach with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. Photo: Jiyang Chen

Violinist Zenas Hsu received early instruction at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and New England Conservatory. He is a founding member of Chamber Music by the Bay, a California-based interactive music series. In Boston, Mr. Hsu is a member of the Grammy-nominated orchestra A Far Cry, and he serves as concertmaster of Phoenix, a Boston orchestra that focuses on approachable concert experiences. He is a frequent guest artist of Bard Music West and the Wellesley Chamber Players and guest concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Violinist Annie Rabbat is concertmaster of the Boston Lyric Opera and a member of A Far Cry and the Boston Ballet Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, she has been concertmaster of the Gardner Museum Chamber Orchestra and has performed with the Orpheus, St. Paul, and East Coast Chamber Orchestras, as well as with Castle of our Skins, Walden Chamber Players, and North Country Chamber Players. She has also collaborated with the Cleveland, Juilliard, Mendelssohn, Takács, and Orion Quartets and the Florestan, Peabody, and Beaux Arts Trios. She holds degrees from Juilliard, Indiana University, and the New England Conservatory. Photo: Susan Wilson

Violist Cara Pogossian is principal violist of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared as a guest artist with the Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Boston Pops Orchestra. In 2022 she won the Borromeo String Quartet Guest Artist Award, and her quartet received honors at New England Conservatory. Her summer festival participation has included the Marlboro Festival, Ravinia Steans Music Institute, and the Taos School of Music. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, she is currently studying with Kim Kashkashian at New England Conservatory.

Needham Concert Society artistic director Ronald Lowry is principal cellist of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and the Boston Ballet Orchestra, and he performs frequently with the Boston Symphony. He has presented solo recitals in Jordan Hall, at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and throughout New England. He has been guest artist with the Boston Chamber Music Society, the New England Conservatory First Mondays concert series, and the Muir String Quartet. Mr. Lowry teaches at New England Conservatory Preparatory School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Rivers School Conservatory.