NSO X LIHPAO Chamber Concerts II - Circles

“Circles” — a contemporary chamber music concert — presents a rare and striking ensemble of harp, soprano, percussion, and English horn, performing landmark works by modern masters. Italian composer Luciano Berio's Circles and American visionary George Crumb's Madrigals, Book III share the same unique instrumentation, yet each offers a world of extraordinary structural complexity and dazzling contemporary sonorities, posing a formidable challenge to the performers.

Adding further variety, American composer Alan Hovhaness and Italian composer Pasculli — lauded as the “Paganini of the oboe” — explore the interplay between English horn and harp, blending lyrical pastoral gestures with virtuosic brilliance. Moreover, NSO's own distinguished percussionist and composer Ting-Chuan Chen will premiere his newly commissioned work, A Scrap of Time, written for percussion duo, offering audiences an exhilarating glimpse into contemporary creativity.

This concert promises an evening of rare soundscapes, virtuosic mastery, and imaginative exploration, where every note unveils the adventurous spirit of modern chamber music.