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Fragments of Cultural Aftermath: Chamber Music for Clarinet and Piano

Welcome to the exam concert of Madara Eleonora Mežale where she presents selection of works from her project "Fragments of Cultural Aftermath: Chamber Music for Clarinet and Piano".

Damiën Heemskerk

In this project, Madara Eleonora has her focus on solo and chamber music from the 20th and 21st Centuries, exploring repertoire that includes works that had been ignored or suppressed for aesthetic or political reasons. Writer Paul Griffiths once has perfectly said that "since what had recently happened was inexpressible, the only appropriate course was to express nothing". Indeed, many composers followed this idea, turning toward works that were increasingly harsh and abstract. As the world grew more disturbing, their art became more detached and abstract in response.

One issue with this approach, however, is that the resulting art can feel just as unsettling as it loses its human connection. Instead, she chose music that embodies the different facets of the human soul while not forgetting to remind us of the time the music was written at.

Programme

  • Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992): Abîme des oiseaux from Quatuor pour la fin du Temps
  • Esa-Pekka Salonen (1958–): Nachtlieder
  • Mieczysław Weinberg (1919–1996): Clarinet Sonata, Op. 28
  • Joseph Horovitz (1926–2022): Clarinet Sonatina, II mvt.

Participants

  • Madara Eleonora Mežale (clarinet)
  • Vebjørn Anvik (piano)

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Published: May 1, 2026 — Last updated: May 15, 2026