So what is InterHarmony? It sounds like a new piece of corporate jargon, the way “synergy” swept the business world about 15 years ago. That’s actually not far off. The InterHarmony International Music Festival was founded in 2000 in Geneva by cellist Misha Quint and now holds events every year in Germany and Italy. This weekend, Quint himself comes by the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth to bring a taste of his festival to our ears.
The program goes pretty heavy on the Russians, centering around Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata, full of that composer’s quicksilver changes of mood that seem to outpace the key changes. Tchaikovsky’s despairing Pezzo Capriccioso and Stravinsky’s moody Chanson russe also show up here, as well as Rostropovich’s Humoresque, a fiendishly difficult technical showpiece from a great cellist not known for his composing efforts.
If you need a break from the Russians, Debussy’s Cello Sonata injects a welcome note of lightness into the proceedings. Quint will be accompanied by TCU professor John Owings on the piano. There will be another InterHarmony concert here next month as well, so these chamber musicians can look forward to our welcome.
The InterHarmony International Music Festival performance is at 2pm at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St, FW. Tickets are $30-35. Call 212-426-5556.
