Twelfth Night Presents: Before the String QuartetThere is no doubting the dominance and sheer popularity of the string quartet in classical music. The string quartet is as likely to be found at your local concert hall as at a corporate function or wedding, playing anything from Beethoven to Dua Lipa covers. But this wasn't always the case: before the string quartet, the trio sonata reigned supreme. It was considered the perfect genre for domestic and public concerts. Europe witnessed a flood of publications throughout the Baroque era, as nearly all composers took advantage of this opportunity to find their way into people's homes. The premise of the trio sonata is simple––just two upper parts and one bass part—but the effect is anything but simple, resulting in music as expressive, rich, and moving as one can imagine. In this concert, Twelfth Night explores the trio sonata, showcasing several composers across Baroque Europe.