Sarasa Ensemble presents “The Silver Swan”

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – “Clarity, brilliance, tenderness, and strangeness,” these are the words that Benjamin Britten used to describe Henry Purcell’s music. They also express that very distinct English school of composition explored by John Blow, and revisited later in the 20th century by Vaughan Williams and Gerald Finzi. Including a new set of variations for string quintet by Robert Merfeld, inspired by Orlando Gibbons’ famous madrigal, “The Silver Swan.”

With Jason McStoots, tenor; Jesse Irons and Megumi Stohs Lewis, violins; Anna Griffis, viola; Jennifer Morsches and Timothy Merton, cellos; and Daniel Padgett, keyboard.