"Emerald City Music (ECM) presents the finale of its sixth season under the leadership of Artistic Director and violinist Kristin Lee this month. On Friday, May 13, 2022 at 8pm in Seattle (415 Westlake) and Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 7:30pm in Olympia (Washington Center Blackbox), ECM presents Insomnia, featuring J.S. Bach's iconic Goldberg Variations arranged for string trio, performed by Kristin Lee, violin; Juan Miguel Hernandez, viola; and Efe Baltacigil, cello.

In our busy world, rest comes with a price. 17th Century Count Keyserling was no stranger to restlessness. He suffered from insomnia and had hired a fourteen year-old boy, Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, to play for him during his sleepless nights. Johann Sebastian Bach - now considered one of the greatest composers of all time - happened to be the music teacher of the young Goldberg and was requested by the Count to write some harpsichord pieces for Goldberg to play whenever he could not sleep. Bach produced this set of Variations based on this request, and Emerald City Music offers the masterpiece arranged for string trio.

For the Seattle performance, listeners can experience the Goldberg Variations however they feel comfortable -  by bringing a sleeping bag/pillows and laying back, wandering around as they listen, or by grabbing a chair. Per usual, the bar will be open throughout the concert." (Promo Copy)