This program is a tribute to Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979), one of the 20th century’s most remarkable, yet underappreciated composers. Featuring her celebrated Viola Sonata alongside two early Violin Sonatas, the concert offers a glimpse into her evolving artistic journey. Clarke, a composer and violist, overcame significant obstacles in a male-dominated field, creating works of extraordinary depth and originality. Her viola sonata, known for its passionate energy and emotional range, exemplifies her unique harmonic language and melodic creativity, drawing inspiration from Germanic, English, and French traditions. Clarke’s early violin sonatas in G major and D major, which reflect her initial compositional explorations under the guidance of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, were only just published in 2023 and stand as a testament to her extraordinary gift for melody.

In addition to this live performance, the program is available on Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel’s latest CD, Oehms Classics OC1731, released in 2024. This project was made possible by the Dean’s Excellence Accelerator Grant, awarded by the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.