Querencia, a breathtaking portrayal of love and longing, opens Atlanta Ballet’s Kaleidoscope program this weekend. Sergio Masero sets his exquisite yet physically challenging choreography to Anton Arensky’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, with live accompaniment by Western-Li Summerton on the piano, Lisa Morrison on the violin, and Charae Krueger on the cello.
The piano trio are no strangers to ballet chamber music nor to each other. Western-Li Summerton is Atlanta Ballet’s company pianist and music administration coordinator and has had the privilege of accompanying Atlanta Ballet dancers on stage as a soloist in Ben Stevenson’s Three Preludes, as a chamber musician in Justin Peck’s In Creases and, most recently, with the famous Atlanta Ballet Orchestra in Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon. Morrison has been Atlanta Ballet Orchestra’s Concertmaster since 1989, and as principal violinist, has performed live for the ballet in a chamber music setting on many occasions. As principal cellist for the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, Krueger leads the section in performances, coordinates bowings for the cellists along with the other string principal players and plays cello solos in the music score.
All three musicians find the experience of working alongside the dancers incredibly rewarding. “When I am accompanying the dancers, there is something to be said about fully immersing yourself in the character and nature of the piece you are performing,” highlights Summerton. “I appreciate the interdisciplinary expression of this work, and the moments that I create with the dancers as their musical collaborator.” Krueger finds it both inspiring and exciting to work closely with such incredible artistic and athletic performers. “We feed off each other’s creative energy,” she enthuses. “It often involves making musical tempo choices that support the choreography, which is the magic…
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