LOCATIONS

Trinity Episcopal Church
120 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT



Capitol Theater
896 Main Street, Willimantic, CT



St-James Episcopal Church
76 Federal Street, New London, CT



Lichtenstein Center for the Arts
28 Renne Avenue, Pittsfield, MA

TICKET PRICES

Regular Subscription: $50
*Children's subscription: $25

Regular ticket: $20
*Children's ticket: $10

*Children 18 and under

PROGRAMMING

UNCOMMON VALOR
Music as an Alternative Response to Violence

Saturday, November 8, 2008, 7:30 p.m. - Lichtenstein Center, Pittsfield, MA
Friday, December 12, 2008, 7:30 p.m. - Trinity Episcopal Church, Hartford, CT
Friday, November 14, 2008, 7:30 p.m. - St-James Episcopal Church, New London, CT
Saturday, November 15, 2008, 7:30 p.m. - Capitol Theater, Willimantic, CT



Our desire to honor the courage of those who have exercised bravery in finding alternative responses to violence brought us into contact with two works composed in response to the Bosnian War (1992—1995), the first of which commemorates Vedran Smilovic, former principal cellist of the Sarajevo Opera for his courageous, musical protest of the killing of twenty-two individuals waiting in line for bread during the siege of Sarajevo. The second work is a resplendent masterpiece by Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Aaron Kernis. Wilde’s solo cello piece works beautifully as an introduction to Kernis’ quartet. Colored with these associations, the epic scope and sublimity of Brahms’ A-major quartet becomes our offering to peaceful heroes.

Johannes Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 26
David Wilde: The Cellist of Sarajevo - A Lament in Rondo Form, Op.12
Aaron Kernis: Still Movement with Hymn (1993) for Piano Quartet

FOOLS RUSH IN...
The Folly of Impetuous Adventures in Romance or Aggression

Friday, February 13, 2009, 7:30 p.m. - St-James Episcopal Church, New London, CT
Saturday, February 14, 2009, 7:30 p.m. - Capitol Theater, Willimantic, CT
Saturday, February 21, 2009, 7:30 p.m. - Lichtenstein Center, Pittsfield, MA
Friday, February 27, 2009, 7:30 p.m. - Trinity Episcopal Church, Hartford, CT

With guest violinist Victoria Ferris and mezzo-soprano Hai-Ting Chinn

This concert considers the risks of impulsive commitments to love or aggression in a light and fast-paced program with a high dose of humor.  Here the piano is replaced by the harpsichord. Rameau’s Quatrieme Concert is a dazzling virtuoso showpiece for Ms. Jarvis at the keyboard with baroque violin and bass viol accompaniment.  The early baroque set of love songs, as well as Mahler’s Rheinlegendchen will feature guest mezzo-soprano Hai-Ting Chinn.  Following the anachronism of Peter Schickele’s Double Diptych, the comedy continues in Carlo Farina’s hilarious and wonderful Capriccio stravagante, mocking extravagant caprices of amorous or military nature.  John’s Book of Alleged Dances by America’s most popular living composer of art music is an electronically enhanced romp that celebrates dance’s role in courtship.

Jean-Philippe Rameau: Quatrieme Concert for Harpsichord, Violin & bass Viol
Three Early 17th Century Songs for High Voice and Continuo:
- Giulio Caccini: "Amor Ch'attendi"
- Claudio Monteverdi: "Lamento d'Ariana"
- Giovanni Felice Sancez: "Cantata a voce sopra la Ciaccona"
Peter Schickele: Double Diptych for Renaissance Ensemble
Carlo Farina: Cappricio Stavagante a 4 for Strings and Harpsichord
Gustav Mahler: "Rheinlegendchen" from Des Knaben Wunderhorn for Mezzo Soprano and String Quartet
John Adams: John's Book of Alleged Dances for String Quartet and pre-recorded rhythm loops

LEST WE FORGET
Reflections on War

Friday, April 3, 2009, 7:30 p.m. - Trinity Episcopal Church, Hartford, CT
Saturday, April 4, 2009, 7:30 p.m. - Capitol Theater, Willimantic, CT
Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:30 p.m. - St-James Episcopal Church, New London, CT
Saturday, April 18, 2009, 7:30 p.m. - Lichtenstein Center, Pittsfield, MA

With guest violinist Andrea Schultz and guest baritone Chai-Lun Yueh

The first half of this program confronts us with three dark and powerful reflections on war beginning with Chai-Lun Yueh interpreting Samuel Barber’s setting of Matthew Arnold’s classic poem DoverBeach..Alexander Scriabin’s chilling Black Mass sonata is followed by Shostakovich’s Second Piano Trio, composed during World War II when the first revelations of German extermination camps reached Russia. The second half enjoins us to remember that brotherly love that would be the guarantor of peace. Beethoven’s glorious Op. 127 quartet was patently written while the inspiration for the Ninth Symphony (Op. 125) still rested on the composer.

Samuel Barber: Dover Beach, Op. 3 for Bariton and String Quartet
Alexander Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 9, Op. 68, "Black Mass"
Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op.67
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 127 in E-flat Major

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Photo: Susan Wilson