An old adage attributed to Hans Christian Andersen states “Where words fail, music speaks.” Despite the axiom, on Jan. 17 in Emory University’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, words and music worked in tandem to transcend time and explore the relationship between two virtuosos turned from allies to adversaries. A collaboration between former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove and the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta (ECMSA), the event alternated between readings of Dove’s “Sonata Mulattica” (2009) and performances by Hannah White on violin and ECMSA Artistic Director William Ransom on piano.
“Sonata Mulattica” features a collection of poems and a short play about the friendship and fallout between violinist George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower and maestro Ludwig van Beethoven. The performance marked the first event in ECMSA’s 2025 concert series after a previously scheduled show was canceled due to inclement weather.
Dove’s dress shimmered under the stage lights as she captivated the crowd with her poetry and delivery, using lilting intonation to mimic the tempo changes of the violin and piano. “A lunatic angel has descended on Vienna,” Dove said, recounting Beethoven’s initial reaction to hearing Bridgetower play the strings. She elicited gasps and chuckles from audience members as she spoke about the pair’s alleged quarrel over a woman — a disagreement that prompted Beethoven to rededicate his “Violin Sonata No. 9,” which was originally titled “Sonata Mulattica” in an outdated reference to Bridgetower’s biracial parentage. The sonata eventually became known as the “Kreutzer Sonata,” leaving Bridgetower largely unknown to history.
Although the real-life bond between Bridgetower and Beethoven may have been fraught, the on-stage relationship between the performers was anything but. Ransom’s piano accompanied White’s violin synergistically, every note enveloping the grand hall. Both musicians also listened intently as Dove spoke. Similarly, Dove smiled in observation while Ransom and White played, demonstrating a shared appreciation for different art forms.
Dove concluded her reading with a chapter called “The End, With MapQuest.” Influenced by her attempt to locate the place where Bridgetower died, the final poem posed the question, “How does a shadow shine?” These words left the audience with a lingering query as palpable as a musical fermata.
Sophia Chenault (23Ox, 26C) said that she came across Dove’s work as a first-year student at Oxford College in a course led by Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing Tameka Cage Conley. Chenault attended the performance with her former professor and noted that she found Dove’s poetry “life-changing” and “poignant.”
“Her work is musical in its wording, but also accompanied with the ‘Kreutzer Sonata,’ is just perfect,” Chenault said.
Katherine Mombo (28C), a freshman who plans to double major in history and music on the violin performance track, said that while she was unfamiliar with Dove’s work before the show, Friday’s event successfully piqued her interest in reading “Sonata Mulattica.”
“I really loved how they combined the poetry and history with the music, and I think the historical aspect made the musical experience so much more immersive,” Mombo said.
While Dove has made several visits to Emory in the past — including to deliver the keynote address at Commencement in 2013 — the performance marked 22-year-old violinist White’s Atlanta debut. In addition to playing the “Kreutzer Sonata” on Friday night, White led a violin master class open to the public on Jan. 18.
The performance attracted a vast audience of fans and unfamiliar listeners, students and visitors alike. Thays Morgan, an attendee from Brookhaven, Ga., drove to Emory specifically for the chance to see the former poet laureate speak.
“To see the representation on the stage was very moving for me,” Morgan said. “And also seeing the age differences, generationally… I just thought it was such an inclusive experience.”
Together, Dove, White and Ransom illustrated the breakdown of a friendship, inviting listeners to revisit music history and reimagine the inner musings of two talented musicians. Evidently, in the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, words never fail, music always speaks and shadows can indeed shine.
Safa Wahidi (she/her) (23Ox, 26C) is from Sugar Hill, Georgia, and is double-majoring in political science and creative writing. Outside of the Wheel, Safa has worked at Spoon University, Forsyth County News and CNN International. Previously, Safa’s pop culture column “Wahidi’s What’s Happening” won first place nationally at the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards. In her free time, you can find Safa exploring nearby bookstores and brunch spots.
