CASSATT QUARTET
& STEVEN BECK

Georgia O’Keeffe’s Portrait of New York… in Music

What does a city sound like after dark?

Inspired by four of Georgia O’Keeffe’s iconic paintings of New York from the 1920s and 1930s, Victoria Bond’s New York Nocturne transforms moonlit skyscrapers, glowing streets, and the restless energy of Manhattan into music. In this special preview of the work’s world premiere, the Cassatt String Quartet and pianist Steven Beck bring O’Keeffe’s urban landscapes to life through four vividly imagined musical portraits.

The program also explores today’s American musical landscape through works by Joan Tower, Shirish Korde, Cody Forrest, and Daniel Sonenberg—music that ranges from meditative and atmospheric to bold, rhythmic, and deeply personal. Together, these works celebrate the vibrant dialogue between visual art and music, tradition and innovation, culminating in the unveiling of a major new commission.

Whether you’re drawn to the visual world of Georgia O’Keeffe, the excitement of hearing brand-new music, or simply the intimacy of world-class chamber music performed up close, this concert offers a rare opportunity to experience all three in a single evening.

The Cassatt String Quartet

Named for pioneering American painter Mary Cassatt, the Cassatt String Quartet has spent four decades championing the music of living composers while performing on many of the world’s most celebrated stages. Hailed for its “mighty rapport and relentless commitment,” the ensemble has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Tanglewood, and internationally throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The Quartet maintains a longtime residency with Maine’s Seal Bay Festival of American Chamber Music, where it performs, mentors emerging composers, and continues its commitment to expanding the chamber music repertoire through new commissions.

Joining the Quartet is pianist Steven Beck, an internationally acclaimed performer known for his artistry in both standard repertoire and contemporary music. A Steinway Artist and Juilliard faculty member, Beck has performed with the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, and at leading festivals and concert halls across the country. His deep experience premiering new works makes him an ideal collaborator for this remarkable evening of American music.

Run Time: 60 minutes, with no intermission.