Rafael Popper-Keizer

Rafael Popper-Keizer is a cellist who performs with A Far Cry, the Boston-based self-conducted string orchestra known for chamber-music-style collaboration among its players. He appears in the ensemble's upcoming Massachusetts programs, which range from intimate chamber works for two or three players to full string orchestra repertoire.

In these programs, listeners can expect a mix of intimate chamber pairings and larger ensemble string writing. The "Folie à deux" concerts pair down to duos and trios, including new and recent works like Akshaya Avril Tucker's Breathing Sunlight for violin and cello, Wiancko's American Haiku for viola and cello, and Golijov's Mariel, a piece built on a slow, keening melodic line over a steady pulse. The "Heart Strings" program moves to full string orchestra textures, spanning the familiar cascading lines of Pachelbel's Canon, the dense, dark harmonies of Schoenberg's Notturno, and the broad emotional arc of Mahler's Fifth Symphony. As a member of A Far Cry, Popper-Keizer performs without a conductor, meaning the ensemble's phrasing and pacing emerge from listening and cueing among the players themselves.