BEETHOVEN’S GROSSE FUGE PREMIERES JAN. 9 | 8 PM DOWNTOWN SERIES PROGRAM

BEETHOVEN’S GROSSE FUGE ANTOINE PLANTE, CONDUCTOR

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) GROSSE FUGE, OP. 133

CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862-1918) in G minor, L.91 I. Animé et très décidé II. Assez vif et bien rythmé III. Andantino, doucement expressif IV. Très modéré – En animant peu à peu – Très mouvementé et avec passion

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Chamber Symphony in C minor, Op.110a I. Largo II. Allegro molto III. Allegretto IV. Largo V. Largo

THIS PERFORMANCE IS MADE POSSIBLE IN

PART BY THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT, THE BROWN FOUNDATION,

THE CULLEN TRUST FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS,

AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE.

LIVE STREAMING OF THIS PERFORMANCE IS PRODUCED BY

BEND PRODUCTIONS, INC.

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 1 MERCURY MUSICIANS

ANTOINE PLANTE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LYNN WYATT CHAIR

VIOLIN I Jonathan Godfrey, Concertmaster Sponsored by Randy & Cathy Crath Anabel Detrick Andrés González Rachel Shepard Hannah Watson Rasa Kalesnykaite

VIOLIN II Oleg Sulyga, Principal Sponsored by Mrs. Andrew Wilkomirski Maria Lin Jackson Guillen Sean O’Neal Jaya Varma Tinca Belinschi

VIOLA Kathleen Carrington, Principal Matthew Carrington Rainey Weber Meredith Harris

CELLO Courtenay Vandiver Pereira, Principal Erika Johnson Francis Koiner

BASS Deborah Dunham, Principal Paul Ellison

Hudson Davis, Lighting Design BEND Productions/Ben Doyle, Videography

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 2 PROGRAM NOTES

Each one of the pieces on this instrumental appropriate program originated as music to the Austro-German tradition, for string quartet, but is heard but within an output understood here in for string as impressionist, Symbolist- orchestra, which affords the inspired, and above all, distinctly added effects of sonority created French. And Shostakovich’s by multiple players per part, solos quartet bears a dedication to the against the tutti, the addition victims of fascism, but is stamped of the contrabass part beneath throughout with a motto that the cello, and divisi scoring. The refers to the composer himself, resulting transformation from so that we are left to ponder more intimate to distinct (and mutually exclusive) more prominent orchestral work inspirations and meanings of the is an enduring attraction. To piece. One further connecting give some prominent examples, thread between the three pieces Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de is more technical: all of them Florence, Schoenberg’s Verklärte focus on a single idea – a Nacht, Barber’s Adagio for subject, theme, or motto – that Strings, and Rouse’s Concerto per ties together the multi-movement corde all originated in quartet or or multi-sectional whole, so that sextet scorings. Shostakovich’s each work stands as a distinctive String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 110, essay on thematic variation and was already arranged for string unity. orchestra by Rudolf Barshai in 1967 while the of Beethoven’s late-period Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge and compositions, the products of Debussy’s String Quartet Nº 1 are a completely deaf composer the work of Antoine Plante for experimenting aggressively, Mercury. include the largest works of his career (the Ninth Symphony, Op. All three pieces merit the extra 125), the smallest (the Bagatelles, attention of these arrangements Opp. 119 and 126), and variation because each is a fascinating technique on an unprecedented enigma of compositional intent. scale (the Diabelli Variations, Op. Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge 120). There is also a retrospective translates as “great fugue,” but it quality to Beethoven’s late works is so unlike previous that in his incorporation of sixteenth- its form and genre have been century church modes and and continue to be debated. Baroque-era fugal technique. The Debussy’s quartet stands Grosse Fuge, while inspired by out prominently as abstract the fugues of Bach and Handel,

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 3 PROGRAM NOTES is, as mentioned, of a scope first, in the fugal principle of the and form that transcend the imitative contrapuntal elaboration traditional genre. Beethoven of a fugue subject, and second, originally conceived the Grosse in Beethoven’s genius for musical Fuge as the finale to his String development (motivic and Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130, thematic transformation; tonal but his publisher persuaded him modulation). to substitute a less ambitious (and more easily marketable) The enigma of Shostakovich’s finale while publishing the fugue quartet, which extends to much separately under its own opus of his output and to the man number, Op. 133. himself, lies in the contradictory interpretations of his life and A fugue can be defined as music. In the public and official the exploration of possibilities version of the composer, offered by a predominant musical Shostakovich was a loyal citizen idea, the fugue subject, within of the Soviet Union whose imitative . Rather music reflected the aims of than a set form, the fugue is more Soviet society. In the revisionist a through-composed process version, he was a longstanding of introducing the subject in but closeted political dissident successive voices, combining whose music subtlely and cleverly it with independent lines, expressed anti-Soviet messages. and subjecting it to a variety The composer dedicated his Op. of contrapuntal procedures 110 to the “memory of the victims (fragmentation, expansion, of fascism and war.” At the time inversion, for example). he composed the quartet, in an Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge takes intense three-day burst in July this process as his point of 1960, Shostakovich was at work departure, but the final product on the music commissioned for could be heard as a sequence of a collaborative Soviet and East movements in different meters German movie, Five Days – Five and tempos, or as a theme and Nights. The movie tells the story variations composition in which of the Soviet rescue of Dresden the counterpoint surrounding that art treasures at the end of World theme is ever-changing, or even War II and shortly after the allied as a overlaid onto a fire-bombing of the city. As part fugue. No single interpretation of this commission, Shostakovich of the piece wins out, hence its visited the ruins of Dresden and enigmatic nature. Rather, the saw film footage of the vast key to comprehending it lies, conflagration of February 1945.

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 4 PROGRAM NOTES

In that context the quartet And yet, both the pro- and anti- portrays his reaction to the Soviet interpretations sketched devastation and tragedy of a war here are ideologically simplistic brought about by German fascists readings of a sophisticated piece and ended by Soviet socialists. by a complex individual. We can That’s one interpretation, but confidently connect the piece another dismisses the dedication with its immediate inspiration as public posturing while taking of the fiery destruction of account of the motto that Dresden and with the larger pervades this somber piece – the calamity of World War II, while pitches D, E-flat, C, B-natural – as also perceiving the musical the key to a more personal and epitaph that Shostakovich politically subversive message. That sequence of pitches, which ultimately created for himself. in the more traditional German But whether the piece harbors a nomenclature is D-Es (or S)- message about the Soviet state, C-H, is a musical cryptogram for pro or contra, or transcends the composer’s name: D[mitry] the question altogether is an SCH[ostakovich]. (This much unresolved debate that has is uncontroversial: for example, unfolded in the decades since B-flat, A, C, B-natural spells out Shostakovich’s death. Bach; E-flat, C, B-natural, B-flat, E, G spells out SCH[oen]BE[r]G; The Debussy quartet confronts both of these composers, along us a question more of style than with Shostakovich and many of meaning. Debussy is best others used such self-identifying known for his French modernist cryptograms.) In the revisionist rejection not only of German view of the composer and his Romanticism, Wagnerism in music, the D-S-C-H motto in particular, but also of the Austro- Shostakovich’s quartet reveals the German instrumental tradition composer himself as the victim (i.e., Bach through Brahms), in of an oppressive and menacing which abstract musical forms Soviet state. That the quartet quotes several of Shostakovich’s were created by means of key earlier works – the First and Fifth relationships within functional Symphonies, a Jewish folk tune harmony and by longstanding he used in his Second Piano techniques of thematic Trio, an aria from his opera Lady development. Debussy’s most Macbeth of the Mtsensk District – popular instrumental works, often only intensifies the focus on the described as impressionist or composer as subject. atmospheric and sometime

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 5 PROGRAM NOTES associated with Symbolist poetry, distinctly untraditional and is overwhelmingly programmatic: Debussyan, the quartet features for example, Prélude à l’après- his constantly syncopated midi d’un faune, Nocturnes, and rhythmic style (accented weak La mer for orchestra; “Pagodes” beats and offbeats, triple vs. from Estampes, “Clair de lune” duple subdivisions of the beat), from the Suite bergamasque, modal and pentatonic scales that and the programmatically titled underlie a tonal style independent preludes from his two collections of traditional harmonic of Préludes (think, for example, progressions, and a variety of of “La fille aux cheveux de lin” or effects and articulations that “La cathédrale engloutie”), all for emphasize the importance of solo piano. tone color (extended murmuring trills over different pitch Debussy’s chamber music and intervals, multiple and sometimes the string quartet in particular simultaneous ostinatos, pizzicato alter this picture. The quartet chords). – confidently titled “Premier quatuor” although a second Alongside these details is a quartet never emerged, and persistent theme – altered in labeled as Op. 10 even though rhythm, tone color, and pitch Debussy otherwise never content – that unifies the gave opus numbers to his whole of the piece and throws compositions – demonstrates the contrasting moods and some of the very characteristics characters of its individual that the composer is thought to movements into higher relief. have rejected: a string quartet Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge and (without programmatic titles) Shostakovich’s quartet also in a traditional four-movement bear this essential feature of a arrangement (sonata-form single and enduring idea within a first movement, a , complex whole of diverse parts. slow movement, and finale), In each case, listen for the idea and a main theme that recurs and enjoy the unfolding work. throughout the whole of the work. Rather than a rejection Gregory Barnett © of the Austro-German tradition of abstract instrumental music, Debussy can be seen here as adapting it to fit his distinct musical voice. A traditional genre and form that sounds

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 6 MERCURY PATRON SOCIETY

Mercury’s Patron Society recognizes individuals that make an annual leadership gifts of $2,500 or more. Mercury is grateful to the follow- ing individuals whose annual contributions provide vital support for the organization and make our concerts, events, and music educa- tion programs possible.

PLATINUM BRONZE ($5,000 - $9,999) ($25,000 and above) Mary Kay & Walter Mark Buehler* Mollie & Wayne Brunetti* Paul Erb & Barbara Belt Kirsten Jensen & David Kerley* Marcia & Tom Faschingbauer* Dr. & Mrs. Christopher Prince* Linda & Joe Fowler Christine & Jan Spin* Debra & Mark Gregg Kristine & Stephen Wallace* Barbara & Stephen Hall* Lynn & Oscar Wyatt* Carmen Delgado & Duane C. King* Lili & Hans Kirchner* Anonymous Julia & Keith Little* Marty & Bruce Lundstrom GOLD ($15,000 - $24,999) Carol & Joel Mohrman* Donna & Mike Boyd* Kelly & David Rose* Catherine & Randy Crath Linda & Tom Sparks Bastiaan & Nathalie de Zeeuw* Nina & Michael Zilkha* Martha & Blake Eskew* Virginia Hart & Robert Navo* PATRONS ($2,500 - $4,999) Amy & Lloyd Kirchner* Matthew Brogdon* Mrs. Warren W. Kreft* Drs. Susan & Dennis Carlyle* Rose Ann Medlin & William E. Joor III* Joe & Kim Caruana Lori Muratta & Antoine Plante* Robert Chanon* Gaby & Kenny Owen* David & Margaret Fifield* Sharon & Tim Taylor Sheri Henriksen Mrs. Andrew Wilkomirski* Nan Earle & George Holliday* Cristela & Bill Jonson* Mimi Lloyd* SILVER ($10,000 - $14,999) Shannon & Jamie Mann* Jessica & Jay Adkins* Angelika & Michael Mattern* June & Steve Barth* Luc Messier & Julie Fette* Rebecca Fieler* Patricia & Kevin Mitchell William Guest* Dr. Maureen O’Driscoll-Levy Janice & Timothy Howard* Joëlle & Geoffroy Petit Mariko & John Jordan* Nancy Scofield Hester Rosemary Malbin* Sasha Van Nes & Jim Smith* Neil Sackheim & Stephen Voss* Carolynne & Doug White* The van der Ven Family* Courtney Williams, MD*

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 7 MERCURY SUPPORTERS

Mercury is grateful to the following individuals whose ongoing support makes our concerts, events, and music education programs possible. SUPPORTERS ($500 - $2,499) Ms. Diane Marcinek* Joel Abramowitz & Rita Bergers* D M Marco Mrs. Mary Lynne & Mr. Albert Allen* Mrs. Nancy Wynne Mattison* James & Barbara Becker Kathleen Moore & Steven Homer Dr. Joan H Bitar* Dr. & Mrs. Robb Moses Dr. Jerry L. Bohannon* Warren Nicholson Michael & Marsha Bourque David & Maria Perez Chuck Bracht & Cheryl Verlander* Olivia Petrini Di Monforte* Denise Byington Patricia & Gary Rathwell* Capital Advisors, Inc/Andy Brown Claudia Reyes Joe & Kim Caruauna Clarruth Seaton & Greer Barriault David Cook Mr. Don Shackelford* Dr. Gilbert Cote* Janis & Scott Stevenson Mimi & David Cotellesse* Ralph & Meredith Stone Cotton Club Collection Sandra Tirey & Jan R. van Lohuizen The Carl and Phyllis Detering Fdn. Dr. Paul Vitenas* Dr. Bill & Sharon Donovan Rachel & Jason Volz Richard & Rena D’Souza Geoffrey Walker & Ann Kennedy* Annette & Knut Eriksen Rick & Betsy Weber Denis Flanigan Ph.D. & Mr. & Mrs. Richard Weiss Thomas Jolley* Elizabeth D. Williams* Robert Fuentes Richard & Carlie Yoo Gerald Gallion Ann & Ben Ziker Mr. Gary Gardner & Mrs. Peg Palisin Anonymous(3) Leonard Goldstein & Helen Wils Dennis Griffith & Louise Richman DONORS ($100 - $499) Irene & Greg Haas* Anthony Abisogun* Claire & Joseph Halloin* Raju Adwaney Hovig Heghinian & John & Kathy Agee Isabelle Bedrosian Philip Ahern* Heimbinder Family Foundation Jack & Ruth Alpert* Robert & Carol Hermes Carol & Glen Anderson* Janet & Ed Hess Art Attack - Merry Schooley Robert Heyl Helga K. Aurisch Carter & Nancy Hixon* Jerry S. Baiamonte Maurice Isaac* Philip Ball* Brad & Alida Johnson* John & Rosemarie Baugher* Molly & Hugh Rice Kelly John Robert Behrman* Candace & Weir Kyle D. Bentley Sarah & Christopher Lewis Judy Bergman Priscilla L. List Mark Berry Jim & Ellana Livermore Thomas Bevilacqua

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 8 MERCURY SUPPORTERS

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MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 9 MERCURY SUPPORTERS

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MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 10 MERCURY SUPPORTERS

FRIENDS (up to $99) Alfredo & Maria Galvan Bjorn Aannestad Jesse Gongora Bill & Nancy Ackley Bert Gordon Allison Adams Rosemary Grant Ellen Alfar John M. Griffin Keith Anthis Robert Guynn, M.D. Rolando Arguijo Louis Harrison Jeffrey & Rita Aron John Harvey Eleanor Asbury Margaret C. Hawk Ann Marie Barmore Nancy Henderek Mary J. Beckham Leonardo J Hernandez Sandi Berman Luis G. Hernandez Pamela Best* Richard Hickman John Birks Lynn Hilmers Valerie & Edward Blair Franklin Holcomb Dr. Sarah J Bottomley Dr. Jennifer Hong Gwen Bradford Elizabeth M. House Walker & Kathy Brickey Juliet Hsu Leslie Brown Jonathan & Debb Jerke Michael & Michaele Brown* Ms. Pam Johnson Glenn & Eunice Buchanan Patricia Jones Greg & Lucy Cain Joe & Kayoko Keselman Jan Castleberry Kathryn Ketelsen Colin Catoe Patricia Kievlan Kenwei Chen Michael K. Kuhn Robyn Clark Weldon Kuretsch* Rosalyn Cobbold Mr. Guy Langelier Donna Cooper* Mrs. Clara Lewis Shaye Craig Jorge Lopez-de-Cardenas Lesa Curry MaryLynn Marks David DeRubeis Mary Jo & David Martin Ted Dom & Lynne Whitworth Mikhail Matoussov Kevin Downs & Meghan Caulkett Tamara McFarland* Diana Duff Joan McKirachan Todd & Emma Edwards Christopher Mendell Erika Espinosa Daniel Meyler Dr. Savitri Fedson Chris & Elizabeth Miller Barbara Feldman Marion Miller Carly Filippov Ann Montgomery Bernice A Fisher Gail Nash Elizabeth Fountain & John Ward Buford Nichols Jan Fowler Hillary K. Oseas Jane Frantz Cheryl & George Allen Pace Miguel Fuentes Nan & Bruce Parker

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 11 MERCURY SUPPORTERS

FRIENDS (up to $99) cont. GIFTS IN HONOR OR MEMORIAL Maria Patino Carl A. Detering Jr., Marjorie Patten in honor of J. Michael Boyd Margo Pearson Mikhail & Elena Geilikman, Ngoc Pham in honor of Oleg Sulyga Arlene Price Noemi Islam, Lucy Ann Randel Crispin Reyna in memory of Jose Nobile Gnazzo Greg & Kate Robertson Rosemary Malbin, Jim Robin in loving memory of Mrs. Lisa Robinson Michael Malbin Leslie Saia* Ann Saunders Karen Merriam, Ingrid Schenkel in honor of June Barth Hans U. Schutt Robb & Audrey Moses, Jerry Seeley in loving honor of Boudewijn Siemons Tom & Margaret Gwynne Sally J. Smith Warren Nicholson, Tad Smith in honor of Ginny Hart Dr. Victoria Stafford Olivia Petrini di Monforte, Jennifer Stearns in memory of Count Rinaldo Dragan & Ranka Stojkovic Petrini di Monforte Karla & Bradley Stuebing Arnaud and Margaret Pichon, Ms. Barbara Taake in memory of Maurice K. Isaac Boris & Vita Taksa Kade Smith, Cesar & Patty Tamez in memory of Karen Skaer Soh Carolyn M. Tatge Andrew Wallace, Brian Tulloch in honor of Stephen Wallace Mark Valentine Pamela Vogel Robert & Sandra Wager Dean Walker Susan Weatherly* Mark Wilson Dr. Robert K. Wimpelberg & Peter Hodgson Paul & Andrea Yatsco Gay & Dean Zimmerman Anonymous (13)

Based on Total Giving from 7/1/2019 – 1/6/2021 *Subscribers

We greatly appreciate each gift given to support Mercury, and we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Please notify Jennifer Yorek of any inaccuracies or omissions by contacting her at [email protected]

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 12 FOUNDATIONS & CORPORATE COUNCIL

Mercury is grateful to the following foundations, government entities and Corporate Council members whose ongoing support makes our concerts, events, and music education programs possible.

CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE (over $50,000) The Brown Foundation, Inc. The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Houston Endowment Inc. Anonymous CONCERTMASTER’S CIRCLE ($25,000–$49,999) Houston Arts Alliance Southern Chemical Corporation Texas Commission on the Arts The Wyatt Foundation PLATINUM CIRCLE ($15,000–$24,999) Miller Outdoor Theatre Advisory Board Shell Oil Company Foundation Valobra Master Jewelers GOLD CIRCLE ($5,000–$14,999) The Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Baker Botts, LLP BB&T/Truist Chevron ConocoPhillips Enspirall LLC William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust Houston Saengerbund Inscription Capital National Endowment for the Arts Phillips 66 Riviana Foods Team, Inc. Ware, Jackson, Lee, O’Neill, Smith & Barrow, LLP BRONZE CIRCLE (up to $2,499) Capital Advisors Cotton Club Collection ExxonMobil Foundation Mid America Arts Alliance

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 13 MISSION AND VISION

MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER, AUGUST 31, 2019

MERCURY’S MISSION

To serve the community by celebrating the power of music through teaching, sharing and performing with passion, intimacy and excellence.

MERCURY’S VISION

• Be the most welcoming and innovative arts institution

in Houston.

• Be an exemplary period instrument ensemble for the nation.

• Transform the lives of a diverse audience through music.

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 14 MERCURY BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION

BOARD ADMINISTRATION

Virginia Hart, President Antoine Plante Artistic Director, Lynn Wyatt Chair Blake Eskew, Treasurer

Timothy Howard, Secretary Brian Ritter Executive Director Lloyd Kirchner, Immediate Past

President Jennifer Yorek Antoine Plante, Artistic Director Development Director

Brian Ritter, Executive Director Katie DeVore Jay Adkins Marketing Manager

Steve Barth Judy Frow Catherine Crath Artistic Administrator

Bastiaan de Zeeuw Brian August Marcia Faschingbauer Production Manager Rebecca Fieler Matthew Carrington William Guest Music Librarian Kirsten Jensen sponsored by Rebecca Fieler

Keith Little

Rose Ann Medlin

Joel W. Mohrman

Ken Owen

Christopher Prince

James E. Smith

Christine Spin

Ana Treviño-Godfrey

Ralf van der Ven

Stephen Wallace

Lynn Wyatt, Special Advisor

MERCURY SEASON 20/21 | 15 LYNN WYATT CHAIR