Outdoor Concert: The Knights Orchestra

The Knights return to the Clark! To celebrate the Guillaume Lethière exhibition, the orchestra plays a double violin concerto by the artist’s contemporary, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, plus a new composition by Kyle Sanna featuring renowned Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh as guest soloist. The performance speaks to the layered influence of art and artists.

The program includes:

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Symphonie Concertante in G Major for two violins and orchestra, op. 13, no. 2, featuring Colin Jacobsen, violin, and another Knights violinist

Gabriela Ortiz
La Calaca for string orchestra

Kyle Sanna
World Premiere of Undone Landscape, featuring Kinan Azmeh, clarinet

Kinan Azmeh
“Wedding” from Suite for Improviser and Orchestra, featuring Kinan Azmeh, clarinet

Based in New York City, The Knights are a collective of musicians dedicated to transforming the orchestral experience and eliminating barriers between audience and music. Led by an open-minded spirit of camaraderie and collaboration, they seek to engage with contemporary culture through vibrant performances that honor the classical tradition and their passion for musical discovery. The collective was founded and is directed by violinist Colin Jacobsen and conductor and cellist Eric Jacobsen, who, together, also founded the Brooklyn Rider string quartet. The Knights’ roster boasts musicians of remarkably diverse talents, including composers, arrangers, singer-songwriters, and improvisers, who bring a range of cultural influences to the group, from jazz and klezmer to pop and indie rock music. Since their founding in 2007, The Knights have toured and recorded with prominent soloists including Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Béla Fleck, Itzhak Perlman, and Gil Shaham, and have performed at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and the Vienna Musikverein.

Free. For accessibility concerns, call 413 549 0524. Bring a picnic and your own seating. Rain moves the performance to September 1.

This performance is presented through the generous support of Mela and Paul Haklisch.