Sherman Chamber Ensemble Ooutdoor Concerts Continue
Beethoven’s Birthday Bash
The Sherman Chamber Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Eliot Bailen, will present an ambitious program celebrating the upcoming 250th birthday of Ludwig von Beethoven on Saturday, September 5 at the field in the IGA Plaza in Sherman, CT at 6 pm.
The German composer is considered the predominant musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras. The program features Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat Major, Op. 20, one of his early works first performed in 1780 and dedicated to Empress Maria Theresa.
Also on the program is Rossini’s Quartet for Arranged Winds in B-flat Major. In April 1822, Rossini, a contemporary of Beethoven, was in Vienna for a festival of his music, and the two met for the only time.
Musicians Susan Rotholz, flute; Jo-Ann Sternberg, clarinet; Peter Reit, horn; Michael Green, bassoon; Eliot Bailen, cello; Jill Levy, violin; Sarah Adams, viola; Peter Weitzner, bass will perform.
One of the few regional organization currently presenting live outdoor concerts, Bailen said the Ensemble was “preserving the feeling of community and a sense of continuity and normalcy as we do our best to keep SCE’s traditions alive in the face of Covid.”
Attendees are asked to bring their own chairs and to feel free to picnic. Rain date is Sunday, September 6 at 4 pm.
The outdoor event will follow CDC and State of Connecticut guidelines for social distancing and rules for events and programs. Face masks are required. Blankets must be spaced 15 feet apart.
The Ensemble requests that tickets be purchased in advance to minimize contact the day of the performance. General Admission to the concert is $30. Senior and Student admission is $25. Children 15 and under will receive free admission when accompanied by an adult purchasing a regular admission ticket. Tickets may be purchased at SCEmusic.org or by calling 860-355-5930.
Also on Labor Day weekend, the SCE Blue Grass Band will present its annual free Bluegrass Jamboree on Saturday, September 5 at 1 p.m. at the Sherman IGA Plaza, Sherman, CT and on Sunday, September 6 at 1 pm at the Kent Barns, Kent, CT.
It’s a chance to let your hair down and enjoy music that’ll get your toes tapping and your feet stomping. Featuring fiddler extraordinaire Paul Woodiel.
Bring your own chairs, snacks and beverages or visit and support local purveyors.
In compliance with State of Connecticut guidelines, we ask that you obtain tickets in advance at SCEmusic.org or by calling 860-355-5930 in advance to minimize contact the day of the performance. While this is a free concert a donation of $10 per person is suggested to help the Sherman Chamber Ensemble continue providing live, world-class music close to our homes.
The Sherman Chamber Ensemble was founded in 1982 to bring world-class live classical music performance to Western Connecticut and nearby New York State. It has been described in The New York Times as “about as close as it gets to the Platonic ideal of a chamber music concert.”
