Outside the Familiar: Bach, Esmail, Stravinsky, skype and Britten

Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum is pleased to welcome cellist Sarah Rommel and pianist Xiaohui Yang for their debut performance at Folio, a musical journey across cultures and centuries.

This multi-cultural program is a journey across centuries and continents, from the grounded elegance of Bach to the Hindustani soundscape of Reena Esmail, through Stravinsky's Neo-classical Parisian reimaginings, to Derrick Skye's Persian-inflected Wounds from Roses (commissioned for Rommel's Arioso Project) and Britten's beloved Cello Sonata, a celebration of cross-cultural creative friendship.

Designed for new listeners and seasoned concertgoers alike, this is an evening that invites you to step outside the familiar. Performed in the round, the intimate setting places you at the heart of the music. Join us for a wine reception after the performance to conclude the evening.

Sarah Rommel is a cellist whose rare sincerity and honest musicianship has established her as a sought-after collaborator, educator, and curator. Known for…