“Debussy and the French Romantics” will be the theme of the second season of the Summer at CenterStage Recital Series, presented by the
Richmond Symphony and the music departments of the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University.The series runs from July 9 through Aug. 27, with performances at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Gottwald Playhouse of Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets.
Musicians from the symphony, UR and VCU will play chamber works by Debussy, Ravel, Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Franck, Poulenc and other romantic, modern and contemporary French composers.
Seating in the Gottwald Playhouse is limited. Most of the concerts in last summer’s series played to full or near-full houses.
Subscription tickets are $130 for adults, $96 for children 18 and younger, $40 for college students (valid identification required), with a 10 percent discount on tickets for mini-series of three or more concerts. Single tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for those aged 3-18, $7 for college students. Adult tickets include a voucher for a free beverage.
For more information on the series, call the symphony’s patron services office at (804) 788-1212 or visit www.richmondsymphony.com
Artists and programs for this season’s Summer at CenterStage:
July 9 – James Ferree, French horn; Richard Becker, piano. Fauré: five songs (Sterling Proctor transcriptions); Chabrier: Larghetto; Damase: Berceuse, Op. 19; Koechlin: Sonata, Op. 70 – andante; Satie: “Gnossienne No. 1 (David Jolley arrangement); Debussy: Préludes, Book 1 – “La cathédrale engloutie;” Debussy: “Images,” Book 1 – “Reflets dans l’eau;” Dukas: “Villanelle.”
July 16 – Ellen Cockerham, violin; Maria Yefimova, piano. Debussy: Violin Sonata; Ravel: “Jeux d’eau;” Fauré: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major, Op. 13.
July 23 – Stephen Schmidt, viola; John Walter, piano. Berlioz: “Harold in Italy” – “Harold in the Mountains” (Franz Liszt transcription); Debussy: “Estampes;” Clarke: Viola Sonata.
July 30 – Jason McComb, cello; Joanne Kong, piano. Debussy: Cello Sonata; Fauré: Nocturne, Op. 33, No. 2; Dutilleux: “Trois strophes sur le nom de Sacher;” Franck: Cello Sonata (Delsart transcription).
Aug. 6 – Thomas Schneider, bassoon; Russell Wilson, piano. Bitsch: Concertino; three French tenor arias; Ravel: Sonatine for piano; Debussy: Préludes, Book 2 – “Bruyères;” Dutilleux: “Sarabande et Cortège;” Saint-Saëns: Bassoon Sonata, Op. 168.
Aug. 13 – Jared Davis, clarinet; Daniel Stipe, piano. Debussy: “Première rhapsodie;” Debussy: “Images,” Book 2; Cahuzac: “Cantilène;” Milhaud: Duo concertant, Op. 351; Poulenc: Clarinet Sonata.
Aug. 20 – Susanna Klein, violin; Yin Zheng, piano. Debussy: “Valse romantique;” Boeck: Violin Sonata; Saint-Saëns: Violin Sonata No. 1, Op. 75.
Aug. 27 – Jennifer Lawson, flute; David Fisk, piano. Fauré: Fantasie; Dutilleux: Sonatine; Debussy: “L’ilse joyeuse;” Jolivet: “Chant de Linos;” Poulenc: Flute Sonata.