In this compelling program, eloquent letters, journal entries and excerpts from Darwin’s seminal publications humanize one of the most probing and influential minds in modern history. Framed by the poetry of Blake, Wordsworth, and Coleridge, as well as the ground-breaking string quartets of Mendelssohn and Beethoven, together with Chris Turner’s virtuosic harmonica improvisations, Darwin’s uncanny sense of observation and vision of natural science are entwined with his strong sense of family, faith and understanding of the human condition, in a complex era.

Performers are: Chris Turner, harmonica reader; Katherine Winterstein, Andrew Eng, violins; Consuelo Sherba, viola and Emmanuel Feldman, cello.