In the Spirit of Brahms

In the Spirit of Brahms features all three of Brahms’ sonatas for violin and piano, paired with new miniatures by composer Francine Trester. Inspired by Brahms’ treasured notebook, The Treasure Chest of the Young Kreisler, Trester’s works offer a modern reflection on the composer’s inner world and artistic influences.

Performers:

Lois Shapiro is a sought-after solo and collaborative pianist who has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad and has recorded on a number of labels, including Afka, Bridge, Channel Classics, and Centaur. A highly regarded teacher of both piano and chamber music, Lois has taught at Smith College, Brandeis University, the Longy School of Music, was a founding member of Triple Helix, and is currently on the faculties of Wellesley College, New England Conservatory, and Rivers School Conservatory of Music.

Praised for her “compelling” and “thought-provoking” work, violinist and composer Francine Trester is a professor of composition at Berklee College of Music. Her compositions have been performed nationally and internationally by acclaimed solo artists, chamber ensembles, and orchestras, and her work is available through the American Composers Alliance and Affetto/Naxos, Albany, Crystal, and Stone Records. As a violinist-composer, she attended Juilliard, Yale, and Tanglewood, and continues to maintain an active performance schedule.