Classical music
Chatter Sunday turns to opera
Echoes of the Santa Fe Opera envelop Chatter Sunday this month in nods to both its musicians and composer Mason Bates.
A brass quintet forged from the Santa Fe Opera orchestra will perform at Las Puertas Event Center on July 9. On July 16, the San Francisco-based Del Sol Quartet will play chamber music by Bates, composer of the SFO world premiere “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.”
The pairing reflects Chatter’s regular collaboration with Santa Fe premiers. The concerts typically sell out, Ensemble New Mexico business manager Tony Zancanella said.
“It’s become a feature of the summer series. Mason Bates is one of the premier orchestral composers in the country, and I don’t think many people are as familiar with his chamber music.”
The brass quintet will perform a variety of music, ranging from the baroque (Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor arranged by Bach) to George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” The musicians include Christopher Stringle and David Dash on trumpets; Greg Flint on horn; Carson Keeble, trombone; and David Becker, bass trombone.
On July 16, the Del Sol Quartet will play a selection of Bates compositions, including his “Red River,” tracing the journey of the Colorado River through the Southwest. Bates was recently named composerin-residence at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
“He’s actually performing at Chatter,” clarinetist and Chatter Associate Director James Shields said. “He’s going to be playing his computer or a turntable.
“He’s best-known for writing the most visible compositions trying to meld DJ-style techno music with both jazz and contemporary American classical music traditions.”
Del Sol Quartet has made several appearances at Chatter.
“We always love having them here, because we can tell they have a good time at Chatter,” he said.