The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Helen Sung Quartet at Music Mountain
FALLS VILLAGE — Music Mountain, America’s longest running summer chamber music festival, welcomes two first-time guests. Escher String Quartet performs Webern, Schubert, and Schumann on Sunday at 3 p.m. Helen Sung Quartet brings her energized and spirited jazz to Music Mountain on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., according to a news release from the venue. Concerts are scheduled through Sept. 23.
Sunday afternoon welcomes first-time guest Escher String Quartet offering the following program: Webern: Langsamer Satz; Schubert: String Quartet in D Minor, D. 810 “Death and the Maiden;” and Schumann: Piano Quintet in E Flat Major, Op. 44. Guest Artist 2017 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Yekwon Sunwoo, Piano.
The Escher String Quartet has received acclaim for its expressive, nuanced performances that combine unusual textural clarity with a rich, blended sound. Within months of its inception in 2005, the ensemble came to the attention of key musical figures worldwide. The Escher Quartet has made a distinctive impression throughout Europe, performing at venues such as Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Berlin Konzerthaus, London’s Kings Place, and Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Alongside its growing success in Europe, the Escher Quartet continues to flourish in its home country, performing at Alice Tully Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington and Chamber Music San Francisco. Currently String Quartet in Residence at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Tuesday Musical in Akron, Ohio, the quartet fervently supports the education of young musicians. In its home town of New York, the ensemble serves as Season Artists of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
Gold medalist of the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, pianist Yekwon Sunwoo has been hailed for “his total command over the instrument” (San Francisco Examiner). Born in Anyang, South Korea, Sunwoo began learning piano at age 8. He moved to the United States in 2005 to study with Seymour Lipkin at the Curtis Institute of Music. He earned his bachelor’s degree there, his master’s at The Juilliard School with Robert McDonald (who will play at Music Mountain on Sept. 16), and his artist diploma at the Mannes School of Music with Richard Goode. A powerful and virtuosic performer, he also, in his own words, “strives to reach for the truth and pure beauty in music,” and hopes to convey those fundamental emotions to audiences.
Helen Sung Quartet comes to Music Mountain for the first time presenting “Monk and More.” The highly acclaimed Helen Sung Quartet features Helen Sung, piano/composer; John Ellis, tenor saxophone; Edward Perez, bass; and Kush Abadey, drums. Jazz pianist/composer Helen Sung’s music has been called soulful, smart, punctuated by irresistible grooves. A superb interpreter of Thelonious Monk, Sung’s exuberant and on-edge exploration of the legendary pianist/composer’s tunes has contributed to her being “one of the most exciting artists in the jazz world today,” said WBGO 88.3FM.
Classically trained, Sung transitioned to jazz study and performance during her final year at The University of Texas. She was accepted as one of seven students to the new Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at New England Conservatory in 1995. Sung refers to her time there as “a life changing experience.” Since then her career has flourished — receiving countless accolades, scholarships, grants, and international engagements. Sung is a member of the Mingus Big Band and Thelonious Monk Band and is currently a member of the jazz faculties at the Juilliard School and Columbia University.
Chamber music concerts continue with Penderecki
String Quartet with Victoria Schwartzman, piano on July 22; Harlem String Quartet with Fei-Fei Dong, piano on July 29; Avalon String Quartet with Soyeon Kate Lee, piano on August 5; and Amernet String Quartet with Chauncey Patterson, viola and Ronald Thomas, cello on August 12.
The Saturday Evening Twilight Series continues with Peter & Will Anderson Quartet on July 21; Swingtime Big Band on July 28; Jimmy Greene Quartet on Aug. 4; and Galvanized Jazz Band on Aug. 11.
Specially priced concerts include: Labor Day Benefit Concert & Reception on Sunday, Sept. 2. All tickets $75. Special Concert & Wine Reception to celebrate the completion of the Beethoven Quartet Cycle will be held on Sunday, Sept. 9. All tickets: $60.
Regularly scheduled Chamber Music Concerts are $35. Twilight Series Concerts are $30. Concert & Dinner Passes are available for all Twilight Series Concerts for $70; includes preconcert dinner at 5 p.m. at The Falls Village Inn, and 6:30 p.m. Twilight Concert at Music Mountain. Dinner reservations must be made no later than the Friday prior to concert date by calling the Music Mountain box office at 860-824-7126.
Children ages 5-18 are admitted free to all concerts when accompanied by a ticket holder. Saturday evening Twilight Concerts are at 6:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon Chamber Music concerts are at 3 pm. Discounts apply through participating organizations.
Music Mountain is located at 225 Music Mountain Road, Falls Village.