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SIGNS OF LIFE

April 12, 2026

3:00PM

Second Church in Newton

60 Highland St, West Newton, MA 02465, USA

Musical Program

ANTONIN DVOŘÁK Notturno for Strings, Op. 40

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Chamber Symphony, Op.110a.

ADOLFUS HAILSTORK Sonata da Chiesa

EDWARD ELGAR Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47

Conductor Paul Polivnik returns to Pro Arte in April for a powerful program of music for string orchestra. Antonín Dvořák transformed an early Andante religioso for string quartet into the luminous Nocturne. Dmitri Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony was also originally scored for string quartet, but its later orchestration conveys his personal anguish with even greater intensity. Inspired by Latin liturgical texts, Adolphus Hailstork’s Sonata da Chiesa is a contemporary American take on the 17th-century church sonata. Edward Elgar fashioned his rich Introduction and Allegro after another Baroque form, the concerto grosso, which assigns a solo role to a group of players—in this case, a string quartet.

Paul Polivnick

Conductor

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