Performers

THE VERONA QUARTET (SEE INTERVIEW BELOW)

JONATHAN ONG, violin
DOROTHY RO, violin
ABIGAIL ROJANSKY, viola
JONATHAN DORMAND, cello and NOLA RICHARDSON, soprano

Acclaimed as an “outstanding ensemble“ by The New York Times, The Verona Quartet has established itself as one of the best on the international chamber music scene. They are joined by luminous soprano Nola Richardson, praised for her polished and impassioned singing. Together, they open Enlightenment with a program that traverses centuries and cultures with music woven from sacred texts, classical forms, and global threads. Reena Esmail’s quartet is a fusion of Western chamber music and Hindustani ragas, each movement a meditation on time, color, and emotion. Known for her visionary cross-cultural voice, Esmail brings us into a world where East meets West in a spirit of creative unity. Sarah Kirkland Snider’s arrangement of a 12th century hymn for soprano and string quartet, composed by German abbess Hildegard von Bingen, is a meditation on feminine spiritual power. Hailed as a leading name in new music, Sarah transforms Bingen’s mystical vision into a soundscape of modern urgency. The program culminates in Ravel’s masterful string quartet, which fuses classical form with innovation, elegance with emotional depth. Join us for an Opening Night Gala that celebrates light.

Program

REENA ESMAIL String Quartet - Ragamala
SARAH KIRKLAND SNIDER O virtus sapientiae (after Hildegard von Bingen)
MAURICE RAVEL String Quartet

Tickets: Age 35+: $42 | 22-34: $20 | 21 & Under: Pay What You Wish.

Honorary Concert Sponsor: Betsy Sherman, in memory of Monica Kelly

Q&A WITH VERONA QUARTET

We talked to cellist Jonathan Dormand about the Verona Quartet's beginnings, its mix of old and new, and occasional musical visits to breweries and distilleries: "It turns out," says Jonathan, "that a great string quartet pairs quite well with a craft IPA."

How did the four of you come together in 2013?

The Verona Quartet was formed at Indiana University, where members of the quartet (including Jonathan Ong, violin, Dorothy Ro, violin, and Abigail Rojansky, viola) were pursuing graduate degrees. It was the faculty who recognized a shared chemistry and encouraged us to explore performing together. We’ve been telling our story through music ever since.

Verona is a reference to Shakespeare. What role does storytelling play in your work?

Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do. Chamber music is inherently narrative. The interplay of voices in a string quartet can be as layered and dynamic as any theatrical dialogue. Our job as performers is to illuminate those narratives and breathe life into them. We chose the name Verona as a tribute to one of history’s greatest storytellers, William Shakespeare, and to the city that served as the backdrop for some of his most iconic tales.

Your opening night program is a fascinating mix of older and newer music. What is the common thread between the three pieces?

The program is united by a sense of spiritual searching and transcendence. Reena Esmail’s quartet draws on the rich traditions of Hindustani music, weaving a deeply personal and cross-cultural tapestry. Sarah Kirkland Snider’s piece is inspired by the mystical writings and music of 11th-century composer and nun Hildegard von Bingen. And Ravel’s quartet, with its lush harmonies and emotional nuance, seems to oscillate between the ecstatic and the contemplative. Together, the works create a journey that is both inward and expansive.

What is the most unusual or unexpected venue where you’ve found yourselves playing? 

We’ve performed in quite a few unconventional settings, but some of the most memorable have been in breweries and distilleries. There’s something special about bringing chamber music into spaces that are warm, relaxed, and communal, it creates an immediate connection with the audience.