Fauré’s Après un rêve is part of a set of three songs (Opus 7), with the vocal part transcribed here for violin. It is one of his best-known and best-loved melodies, and has been transformed into a song without words for several solo instruments besides the violin, including a transcription for cello by Pablo Casals in 1910.

We heard Lili Boulanger’s Nocturne earlier this season, together with another of her short works, Cortège. Audience members were enchanted and will love the opportunity to hear it again. Those who missed our September concert may want to jump at the opportunity to hear this wistful and contemplative work.

Ravel’s Tzigane is a staple encore piece for virtuoso violinists. Ravel is rightly associated with French Impressionism, but this piece imitates the late Romantic style of violin showmanship of composers like Paganini and Sarasate. Composed for violin and piano, the Tzigane is often heard in concert halls with the piano part replaced by a full orchestra.

After the intermission, Cheryl gives Andrew a break by performing Chopin’s Nocturne Opus 62 No. 1 for piano solo. Chopin’s nocturnes represent the composer at his most intimate, and this nocturne is a good example, beginning with two simple chords, with a middle section consisting of a melody sustained over syncopated chords and a solitary and dream-like finale.

The Violin Sonata No. 1 Opus 75 by Saint-Saëns concludes the program. It was composed in 1885 and was the composer’s first published sonata for violin and piano, although he composed a violin sonata in 1842 at the age of six (which was actually published in 2021). A dazzling showcase for both violin and piano, it has taken its rightful place among the worthies of late Romantic chamber music. There are four movements, but the first two and the last two are played together without a break. Saint-Saëns uses a limited number of themes, each incorporated, disassembled, reassembled, and reprised throughout the sonata.

St. Thomas Church is a great setting for chamber music, with wonderful acoustics and room to accommodate a large audience with physical distancing, while still providing unobstructed view of the stage. Individual tickets will be available at the door for $20. Admission for those 14 and under is free. Our goal, as always, is to offer world-class chamber music in Hudson without the commute to the big city and without the big-city prices.