Sherman Chamber Ensemble Shares
The Heart and Soul of Beethoven Two Ways
Following on the heels of July’s sold-out season-opening performance the Sherman Chamber Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Eliot Bailen, will present the second concert of its Summer Masterpiece Series – featuring works by Ludwig von Beethoven, Shulamit Ran and Franz Joseph Hayden. Concerts will take place on Friday, August 10 and Saturday, August 11 at 8 p.m.
The programs include: Eyeglass duo for viola and cello, Ludwig van Beethoven; East Wind – flute solo, Shulamit Ran; Quartet arr. For flute and strings, Op. 77, No. 1, Franz Joseph Haydn; and String Quartet, Op. 132, Ludwig van Beethoven.
Saturday’s concert will be dedicated to the memory of Mary Rindfleisch, long-time Sherman Chamber Ensemble volunteer and executive director, and a lover of music, family and friends.
Susan Rotholz (flute), Jill Levy (violin), Doori Na (violin), Michael Roth (viola) and Eliot Bailen (cello) will perform.
According to Bailen, “The String Quartet, Op. 132 stands out as one of Beethoven’s deepest and most complex compositions.” So together with the Sherman Library, the Ensemble will present a free special open rehearsal, An inside Look at Beethoven’s Opus 132 at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 11 at the Sherman Library.
“This special discussion and open rehearsal will help the audience to gain a richer understanding that will enhance their enjoyment of this piece,” said Bailen.
The program is sponsored by the Sherman Library and the Sherman Chamber Ensemble’s Kemp Mandeville Education Fund.
The 8 p.m. Friday, August 10 concert will take place at St. Andrew’s Church on Main Street in Kent. On Saturday, August 11 the Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. at the Lake Mauweehoo Club in Sherman, CT. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. A “Meet and Greet the Artists” reception will follow the performances.
General Admission to the concerts is $30. Senior and Student admission is $25. Children 15 and under receive free admission when accompanied by an adult purchasing a regular admission ticket. For those who would like lawn seating at the Sherman concert tickets are $10 at the door and purchasers should bring a beach chair or blanket. Tickets may be purchased at ShermanChamberEnsemble.org or by calling 860-355-5930. Tickets may also be purchased at the door subject to availability.
The Ensemble’s summer season ends on Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1 when Israeli-born pianist Benjamin Hochman joins the ensemble for Ode to Bernstein with a Dvorak Nightcap. Described by the New York Times as a “gifted, fast-rising artist,” Hochman’s eloquent and virtuosic performances blend colorful artistry with poetic interpretation exciting audiences and critics alike. He’ll be joined by Susan Rotholz (flute), Jill Levy (violin), Doori Na (violin), Michael Roth (viola) and Eliot Bailen (cello).
The program includes: Piano Trio (Bernstein), Duo for Flute and Piano (Copland), West Side Story Medley Arr. Moss (Bernstein) and Piano Quartet No. 2 in Eb Major, Op. 87, (Dvořák).
Also on Labor Day weekend, the SCE Blue Grass Band will present its annual free Bluegrass Jamboree featuring Paul Woodiel (fiddle) and Gary DiGiovanni (banjo) on Saturday, September 1 at 2 p.m. at the Lake Mauweehoo Clubhouse, Sherman, CT and on Sunday, September 2 at 1 pm at the Kent Village Barns, Kent, CT.
The Sherman Chamber Ensemble was founded in 1982 to bring world-class live classical music performance to Western Connecticut and nearby New York State. Its summer chamber music series has been described in The New York Times as “about as close as it gets to the Platonic ideal of a chamber music concert.” Additional events coming later this year include Labor Day weekend bluegrass jamborees; the annual “Live at the Lake” coffeehouse; and Thanksgiving weekend classical-jazz matinee performances.
