MUSICIANS FROM THE VALLEY OF THE MOON FESTIVAL

Special Event—One Performance Only

The Multifaceted Brahms

The Sonoma-based ensemble whose provocative and path-breaking performances were a major part of the 2018 Berkeley Festival, return with a new program showing the varied aspects of Johannes Brahms’ music, including two songs for contralto, viola and piano (Op. 91), the Horn Trio (Op. 40), and the Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor (Op. 25).

MUSICIANS FROM THE VALLEY OF THE MOON FESTIVAL: Emily Marvosh, contralto; Sadie Glass, natural horn; Ian Swensen and Bettina Mussumeli, violin; Jodi Levitz, viola; Tanya Tomkins, cello; Eric Zivian, fortepiano

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 7:30PM
St. John’s Presbyterian Church
2727 College Ave at Garber, Berkeley


INDIVIDUAL TICKETS FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT & SERIES CONCERTS ARE AVAILABLE

$45 adult/$40.50 seniors/$12 *students under age 30 with ID
*Available only at the box office.

Call the box office at 510-528-1725 or email us <[email protected]>.

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE TODAY*

  • Full Series—Six Concerts (Members save 25%, Non-Members save 15%)
  • Create Your Own Mini Series—3 or More Concerts (Members Save 20%, Non-Members save 10%)

*NOTE: Season Subscribers will receive a special “subscribers discount” on any, or all, of this season’s three Special Event programs. Please contact the box office for your discount code.

Download and Print Mailable Subscription Form

Call the box office at 510-528-1725 or email us <[email protected]>.



The Valley of the Moon Music Festival’s mission is to perform the chamber works on Classical and Romantic music on period instruments, and to promote the careers of emerging artists by collaborating with them in concert.

After many years of exploring, performing and recording the chamber music of the Classical and Romantic periods on period instruments, founders Tanya Tomkins and Eric Zivian have come to the conclusion that these well-known pieces can be experienced in a completely new way, not only through the unique qualities of period instruments but also through a full understanding of period style. Tanya began to appreciate this many years ago in the Netherlands, where she studied and performed, when she heard a very familiar Mozart symphony performed on period instruments by the Orchestra of the 18th Century.

Approached in a style more Baroque than modern, the piece came into an entirely new and fascinating light. The historical instruments took care of many of the balance problems that can arise playing on modern instruments, while bringing out the humor, charm, and poignancy of the music.

For the past ten years, Eric and Tanya have immersed themselves in Classical and Romantic music on period instruments: recording, performing, and teaching these pieces from an historic perspective. They have dedicated more and more of their time and attention to fostering students’ development by coaching, mentoring and featuring them in a house concert series. That led to the idea of starting a music festival devoted to performing and teaching this repertoire on period instruments. Valley of the Moon Music Festival is not just an exciting series of summer concerts in the beautiful town of Sonoma, but also a place for emerging musicians to thrive as they incorporate this chamber music into their professional lives.