From the East explores diverse works by 20th and 21st composers who have roots in Asia and Eastern Europe but work within conventions of Western Classical music. The composers, hailing from Russia, Hungary, China, Serbia, India and Iran, reflect their musical heritage subtly or overtly: sometimes folk melodies and rhythms, ancient cultivated musical traditions or popular dance music of their various homelands are readily apparent; at other times only the unique voice of the composer, born of his particular circumstances, is in evidence. In both cases, the cultural intersections have yielded music of enormous vitality.... show more

From the East explores diverse works by 20th and 21st composers who have roots in Asia and Eastern Europe but work within conventions of Western Classical music. The composers, hailing from Russia, Hungary, China, Serbia, India and Iran, reflect their musical heritage subtly or overtly: sometimes folk melodies and rhythms, ancient cultivated musical traditions or popular dance music of their various homelands are readily apparent; at other times only the unique voice of the composer, born of his particular circumstances, is in evidence. In both cases, the cultural intersections have yielded music of enormous vitality.

The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble is a versatile group of twelve musicians that performs in different combinations. In addition to its regular season, the ensemble performs special concerts for other presenters such as the Other Minds Festival, Berkeley Chamber Performances, and Stanford University.
Left Coast concerts feature new music by well-known composers such as Andrew Imbrie, Gyorgy Ligeti, Mario Davidovsky, Jennifer Higdon, and John Adams, plus works by emerging composers including Philippe Bodin, Harold Meltzer, Mei Fang Lin, and Laurie San Martin. Left Coast also presents compositions by ensemble members Kurt Rohde (Founding Artistic Director, violist) and Eric Zivian (pianist). To demonstrate the connection between newer music and music of past centuries, Left Coast programs include important chamber works from previous centuries by composers including John Dowland, Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, Aaron Copland, and Igor Stravinsky.
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