In honor of Women’s History Month, Dissidents of the Gilded Age honors the women composers of this era who stood as beacons of strength and accomplishment in their lives as musicians and activists. These composers’ music disturbed the social, political, and musical expectations imposed on them by society. “Salon music” was thought of as light entertainment, suited for fairer ears. However, the music is anything but light entertainment, and deserves its time in the spotlight. Dissidents of the Gilded Age is a project many years in the making, and strives to showcase women composers who are still under-performed and under-published. The program will include works by Cecile Chaminade, Dame Ethel Smyth, and Amy Beach.

Duo FAE was founded in 2012 by violinist Charlene Kluegel, and pianist Katherine Petersen, who had met at the Aspen Music Festival several years earlier. FAE stands for “Frei Aber Einsam” or “Free but Lonely,” the motto of pianist-composer Johannes Brahms, and violinist Joseph Joachim. Duo FAE’s playing has been described by the New York Classical Review as wielding “considerable power” and “precise phrasing.”

The concert will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a reception where guests will have an opportunity to meet the artists.

This program of solo piano music will be performed on our 1887 Steinway Parlor Model C, an extraordinary instrument played by the Glessners’ many musical guests ranging from ignacy Paderewski to Sergei Rachmaninoff. Inspired by Frances Glessner’s collection of music, the concert will include pieces ranging from Beethoven and Chopin, to Debussy and Mompou.

Vincent Ip, known as the figure skating pianist, received his Bachelor of Music at the Manhattan School of Music, studying under Andre-Michel Schub, his Master of Music degree at Rice University studying under Jon Kimura Parker, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts at Northwestern University as a full scholarship recipient under the tutelage of James Giles.

The concert will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a reception where guests will have an opportunity to meet the artist.

Inspired by the elegance of the Belle Époque, this recital brings to life the refined world of French art song at the turn of the 20th century. Music by Fauré, Debussy, Ravel, and their contemporaries reflects a time of extraordinary artistic cross-pollination, where poetry and music merged to create works of shimmering beauty and emotional intimacy - perfectly suited to an intimate salon setting. The performance features Andrea Baker, soprano, and Evan Bravos, baritone, accompanied by pianist Nicholas Pothier.

The concert will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a reception where guests will have an opportunity to meet the artists.