Search - Merideth Hite Estevez (oboe and English horn), Jani Parsons (piano) :: Beau Soir - French Music for Oboe and Piano | Debussy, Fauré, Koechlin, Messiaen, Ravel and Silvestrini

Several years ago, we gathered together a unique program of our favorite music from the French composers of the Impressionist era, with the sole purpose of bringing beauty, life, and light into the lives of our listeners. We did not want to present a typical oboe/piano program - we were looking for works that stretched us, that soared beyond the traditional repertoire, and that expanded the pairing into new and wild territories. From this place, Beau Soir was born. Beau Soir brings together songs of love, loss, and longing, wordless melodies, unique arrangements, and new takes on old favorites. The text for Debussy's Beau Soir evokes a transcendent experience: I left the earth to run away with you towards the light. The skies opened their clouds for us, unknown splendours, divine flashes glimpsed. It is our hope that this album will take you on a deeply personal and meaningful journey, filled with joy and enchantment. LUMINA is an oboe and piano duo that combines the beauty of live performance with a passion for social advocacy. Think of us as a microbrewery of chamber music groups - we bring specially crafted, hour-long programs focused on social issues to communities across the United States - unique, refreshing, and locally brewed! Our goal is to heal, stir, call to action, and light up our dark world through the power of music. We have presented concerts in Chicago, Michigan, throughout North and South Carolina, and at numerous universities across the United States that draw attention and support around specific causes. Lumina is comprised of oboist Merideth Hite Estevez (DMA from the Juilliard School) and pianist Jani Parsons (DMA from the University of Michigan). Merideth serves as director of Lumina Arts Incubator, an arts service organization in Wilmington, Delaware, which brings artists into community to unleash joy. Jani is an active soloist and collaborator and a member of the keyboard faculty at Baylor University. Their friendship and similar passions inspired the creation of Lumina, through which they hope to bring beauty and light to you and the communities with whom they engage. Howarth Xl Cocobolo Oboe with Ebonite Top Joint; Fazioli F212 Piano