Join members of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra for Death and the Maiden — an intimate chamber concert that explores themes of beauty, fragility, and mortality through two remarkable works separated by centuries.

The evening begins with selections from Carlo Gesualdo’s Madrigals from Book VI, arranged for string quartet. Gesualdo’s late Renaissance music is known for its startling harmonic shifts and emotional intensity — music that sounds almost modern in its willingness to express inner turmoil and complexity.

The program closes with Schubert’s String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, “Death and the Maiden.” Written during a difficult period in his life, this quartet confronts profound themes with both fierce energy and tender lyricism. The second movement, based on Schubert’s own song about a young woman’s encounter with death, stands as one of the most moving passages in all of chamber music.

This is an evening of reflection and passion, bringing together two composers who weren’t afraid to explore the darker corners of human experience. We hope you’ll join us for this powerful program.