Chamber Music Society 2011-12
The Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia, presenter of the chamber-music series directed by cellist James Wilson, will launch a three-part 2011-12 season with “French Fall,” four events this month featuring the Israeli harpist Sivan Magen and the Aeolus Quartet.
A “Parisian Gala,” whose program includes Debussy’s Quartet in G minor and the “Meditation” from Massenet’s “Thaïs,” will be staged at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Ellen Glasgow House, Main and Adams streets. The event will feature music in the parlors of the historic downtown Richmond home and a buffet dinner following after the performance. Tickets are $75.
Magen will conduct a free workshop with the American Youth Harp Ensemble at 5 p.m. Oct. 28 at Grace Baptist Church, 4200 Dover Road in Windsor Farms, and the Aeolus Quartet will perform in a free casual concert at noon Oct. 29 in the Gellman Room of the Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library, First and Franklin streets.
“Voyages fantastiques,” in which Magen, the Aeolus, Wilson and flutist Mary Boodell will play works by Ravel, Saint-Saëns and Gabriela Lena Frank, will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at First Unitarian Univeralist Church, 1000 Blanton Ave. at the Carillon. Tickets are $25, $20 for seniors, $5 for students.
Later festival events include two “Winter Baroque” concerts, Jan. 6 and 8 at First Unitarian, and a free lecture-recital on Jan. 7 in the Gellman Room. These will feature baroque violinists Christina Day Martinson and Fiona Hughes in the “Mystery” sonatas of Heinrich Biber and music by Vivaldi, Geminiani, Corelli, Locatelli and others. Ticket prices will be announced later.
The festival’s spring series, “Water Music: Chamber Music for the River City,” will feature concerts on May 18, 19 and 21 at First Unitarian and a free program on May 19 in the Gellman Room. Featured works include a suite from Handel’s “Water Music,” Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet, Smetana’s “The Moldau,” Menedelssohn’s “Hebrides” Overture, George Crumb’s “Voice of the Whale” and works by Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Szymanowski, Carl Reinecke and Richard Strauss. Subscription and single-ticket prices will be announced later.
For more information, call (804) 519-2098 or visit http://www.cmscva.org/
