Chicago's Anaphora Ends Season Finale with SILENT MOON Tonight, 6/15

Chicago-based ensemble Anaphora rounds out their Season Finale (tonight, June 15/Nichols Hall) with Augusta Read Thomas' "Silent Moon," commissioned and premiered by Almita and Roland Vamos (Chicago, 2006).

"Silent Moon" is an introverted exploration of The Combined sounds of violin and viola. "Silent Moon" fully embodies the poem it is based upon - sometimes lyrical, sometimes angry, always masterful. (Poem available below, under contact information).

The Season Finale program also includes a seldom-heard Mahler chamber work, a ground-breaking solo piece by Stravinsky, and a Mozart masterpiece. "Silent Moon" is no different, and Anaphora's violinist Aurelien Pederzoli (founder of both Anaphora and Spektral Quartet) and acclaimed violist Dave Moss give an excellent interpretation of the piece.

Praised for her extraordinary compositional versatility, Thomas' musical views compliment Anaphora's mission. In her own words: "Old music deserves new music and new music needs old music." For Thomas, this means cherishing her place within the musical tradition and giving credit to those that have forged the musical paths she follows and from which she innovates. Likewise, Anaphora is dedicated to performing classical and contemporary music without programming limitations. Anaphora has performed works by Thomas since its first season. Anaphora's performance history is available upon request.

The Season Finale takes place tonight, June 15 at 7:30PM at Nichols Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave, Evanston, Ill, Call (847) 448-8325. Tickets start at $10 in advance: www.anaphoraensemble.com.

Composer Augusta Read Thomas is currently one of five University Professors on the faculty of the University of Chicago, and the 16th ever University Professor to be so named at the school. After Anaphora's June 15th performance of "Silent Moon," Thomas will lead the Advanced Master Class for composers at the Aspen Music Festival from June 23- July 21, 2012, serve asMentor Composer from January 8-11, 2013, at the Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, and recently announced four major world premieres taking place in the upcoming 2012-2013 season, including commissions from the University of Notre Dame, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. For more information about Augusta Read Thomas and her works, visit augustareadthomas.com.