Cygnus Ensemble Presents Tribute to Fritz Kreisler, 2/3

Cygnus Ensemble launches its Washington, D.C. debut with a 2012 mini-residency at the Library of Congress kicking off with a tribute to composer/violinist Fritz Kreisler. The program includes seldom-heard chamber music by the Austrian master from the Library of Congress' Fritz Kreisler Collection, and presents the world premiere of a new Library commission by Harold Meltzer, co-founder of the Sequitur ensemble. Cygnus will be joined by special guests violinist Miranda Cuckson, violist Daniel Panner and pianist Blair McMillen at 8pm, Friday, February 3rd, at the Library of Congress, Jefferson Building, Coolidge Auditorium, Whittall Pavilion, 10 First St., SE, Washington, D.C.

The program includes Kreisler's 1919 String Quartet in A minor, and opens with a selection of Kreisler's famous violin and piano pieces performed by Miranda Cuckson and Calvin Wiersma on Kreisler's own Guarneri del Gesù violin, which has its home at the Library of Congress. Composer Harold Meltzer's Kreisleriana, a Library of Congress McKim Fund commission, will have its world premiere, performed by Ms. Cuckson and Mr. McMillen. Also featured will be the Washington, D.C. premiere of a major pillar of Cygnus repertoire, Meltzer's Pulitzer Prize Finalist piece, Brion, commissioned by Cygnus and the Barlow Endowment.

There will be a pre-concert presentation at 6:15 pm in the Whittall Pavilion (no tickets required). Harold Meltzer will talk about his new work with Cygnus founder William Anderson.

The concert is FREE, but tickets are required, available from Ticketmaster (limit 2 per person) at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Washington, D.C.: 202-397-7328, Baltimore: 410-547-7328, or Virginia: 703-573-7328.