Inscape Chamber Orchestra

Journey beyond the earthly realm with Inscape Chamber Orchestra as they explore musical visions of the divine. This extraordinary concert weaves together three masters whose works touch the very essence of the sacred and sublime.

Gustav Mahler's beloved Fourth Symphony anchors the evening with its childlike wonder and luminous finale, where a soprano's gentle voice paints an enchanting portrait of heavenly delights—a place where "we dance and we spring, we skip and we ring" in eternal joy. This most intimate of Mahler's symphonies captures both earthly longing and celestial fulfillment with breathtaking beauty.

The program opens with selections from J.S. Bach's monumental The Art of Fugue, where mathematical precision becomes spiritual revelation. These intricate contrapuntal masterworks demonstrate how Bach transformed technical mastery into profound expressions of divine order, creating music that seems to emanate from the very architecture of creation.

Contemporary voices join this sacred conversation through the ethereal soundscapes of Arvo Pärt's Fratres, whose distinctive “tintinnabuli” style creates moments of crystalline meditation and transcendent stillness. His music strips away the superfluous to reveal something essential and holy. Together, these works form a musical triptych spanning centuries yet united in their quest to give voice to the ineffable—from Bach's baroque grandeur through Mahler's romantic yearning to Pärt's mystical minimalism. Prepare for an evening where earthbound instruments reach toward heaven itself.

“…brilliant” — The New York Times
“…guts and musical sensitivity” — The Washington Post
“…aurally stunning” — ArchivMusic

Founded in 2004 by Artistic Director Richard Scerbo, Inscape Chamber Orchestra is pushing the boundaries of classical music in riveting performances that reach across genres and generations, and transcend the confines of the traditional classical concert experience.

With its flexible roster and unique brand of programming, this critically acclaimed, GRAMMY-nominated group of musicians has quickly established itself as one of the premier performing ensembles in the Washington, D.C. region and beyond.

Inscape has worked joyously and often with emerging American composers and has a commitment to presenting concerts featuring the music of our time. Since its inception, Inscape has commissioned and premiered over thirty new works. Inscape members regularly perform with the National, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Virginia, Richmond, and Delaware symphonies, the Washington Opera Orchestra, and are members of the premiere Washington service bands. Former Inscape performers are members of orchestras across the United States and abroad.

Inscape regularly performs at premiere Washington, D.C. venues such as the National Gallery of Art, Strathmore Music Center, and the Kennedy Center. In recent seasons, Inscape has appeared on concert series in New York, California, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Delaware.