The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
String quartet, jazz band liven weekend at Mountain
Classical concerts in Falls Village scheduled through Sept. 23
FALLS VILLAGE — The Amernet String Quartet performs Schubert, Richard Strauss and Tchaikovsky at Music Mountain on Sunday, at 3 p.m., according to a news release from organizers. Concerts are scheduled through Sept. 23.
Amernet String Quartet returns to Music Mountain on Sunday afternoon with an outstanding program, to include Schubert: Quartettsatz in C Minor, D. 703; Schubert: String Quartet in E Flat Major, D. 87; Richard Strauss: String Sextet from Capriccio Op. 85 — a Music Mountain premiere; and Tchaikovsky: String Sextet in D Minor, Op. 70 “Souvenir de Florence.” The quartet will be joined by guest artists Chauncey Patterson, viola, and Ronald Thomas, cello.
The Amernet String Quartet has garnered recognition as one of today’s exceptional string quartets, praised for its “intelligence” by The New York Times. The Amernet’s performance schedule has taken the quartet across the Americas and to Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. They have collaborated with many of today’s most prominent artists and ensembles, performed at major festivals to critical acclaim and have appeared as quartet soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony. The Amernet String Quartet actively advocates for neglected works of the past and aims to enliven the concert experience through its innovative programming.
Violist Chauncey Patterson has garnered an impressive career as chamber musician, teacher, soloist, and orchestral player. He has been principal viola at Denver Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, and the award-winning Miami String Quartet. During his 15-year tenure, The Miami String Quartet toured the U.S. extensively, playing virtually every high-profile venue including Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl.
Foreign travels (with and without the MSQ) have taken Patterson to Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Panama, Brazil, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, England and the Netherlands. Patterson resides in Miami, where he serves as solo viola of the Florida Grand Opera and interim professor of viola at the Frost School of Music, as well as violist in the Bergonzi String Quartet.
Cellist Ronald Thomas sustains one of the most active and varied careers in today’s music world as performer, teacher and artistic administrator. Thomas is the co-founder and artistic director emeritus of the Boston Chamber Music Society, as well as the artistic director of the Chestnut Hill Concerts in Madison. He was principal cellist of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, appeared in recital and as soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, Europe and the Far East, and performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall and on tour. Thomas has taught at MIT, Brown University, the Boston Conservatory and Peabody Conservatory.
The weekend gets off to a dancing start on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. with the
Galvanized Jazz Band playing the best of Dixieland, New Orleans jazz, and swing. The band is a dynamic group of Connecticut musicians devoted to the energetic performance of hot Dixieland, New Orleans jazz, blues, rags, stomps, struts, spirituals, swing, and classic popular songs from the past century. In addition to playing local concerts and private parties, the band has performed at jazz festivals from Maine to New Orleans and throughout Europe.
Music Mountain is on Music Mountain Road, Falls Village. Free parking and picnic facilities are available. Chamber music concerts are $35, and Twilight Series concerts are $30. Concert and dinner passes are available for Twilight Series concerts for $70; including a preconcert dinner at 5 p.m. at the Falls Village Inn. Children 5 to 18 are admitted free when accompanied by a ticket holder. Saturday evening Twilight concerts are at 6:30 p.m. Sunday; afternoon chamber concerts are at 3 p.m. Discounts apply through participating organizations. For a schedule, special ticket prices, and to download a ticket order form, visit musicmountain.org or call 860-824-7126.