Close to 30 years ago, cellist Yehuda Hanani began presenting chamber concerts with conversation. He wanted an intimate space for a small group of musicians and listeners sitting close by, talking about the music. The tradition comes from that kind of gathering. In the beginning, chamber music meant musicians performed at home. Sometimes ‘home’ was the palatial house of a patron — and sometimes it was home, in their own loft with friends. …

“Close Encounters takes a deep and close look at a wide range of classical music. They may honor a Hungarian-born composer tracing the Hebrew roots of Kohelet (the book of Ecclesiastes) — or perform Anton Arensky’s tribute to his friend Tchaikovsky, and broaden into a melodic conversation between Beethoven, Arensky and Russian folksongs.”

– Kate Abbott, By the Way Berkshires