Duration: 5 Minutes
Commissioned by Stanford Live in celebration of Helen and Peter Bing’s extraordinary commitment to the arts, “Variations in Search of a Theme” transforms a string quartet into theatrical storytelling. Through gestures, glances, and musical exchanges, four instrumentalists become distinct characters engaged in a playful game of musical one-upmanship. As the theme passes between players, each adds their personality – some eager to embellish, others hesitant to join the virtuosic display.