  |
|
January 18, 2007
|
Think small January brings a drought of big concerts as local orchestra tune up for performances starting next month. Filling the gap is a good mix of chamber music, so it's a good time to hear great music written on a small scale. ? World premiere in Concord: A concert on Friday, Jan. 12 at the Concord Community Music School brings a special event?the world premiere performance of a sonata for clarinet and piano by composer Roger Rudenstein, a New Hampshire native. The piece will be performed by well-known local clarinetist Stephanie Ratt? and pianist Paul Dykstra, a member of the music school's keyboard faculty. Dykstra, in an e-mail about the concert, sounded enthusiastic about the piece, which he recorded with clarinetist Richard Stoltzman this past summer. Dykstra is familiar with Rudenstein's work, having also recorded a solo piano sonata by the composer. Rudenstein, described as a "mystery man" by the Boston Phoenix, has had operas performed in Boston and New York. Should be interesting to hear a new work on a small scale played by two skilled interpreters. Also on the program: the great Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120, by Brahms, and pieces by Rachmaninoff, Templeton, and Cavallini. The concert is Friday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Concord Community Music School's recital hall. Tickets are $12 to $15 for adults and $8 to $10 for students and seniors; for info and reservations, call the school at 228-1196. ? Flute and piano in Manch: Flutist Judy Teehan will join pianist Mila Filatova on Wednesday, Jan. 17 for a mid-day "Music's on the Menu" concert at Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Manchester. On the program, titled "Tapestries of Sound": music by Debussy, Schumann, Bizet and the Poulenc Sonata for Flute and Piano. Tip: Never miss a chance to hear the music of French composer Poulenc played live: it's among the best of the 20th century. Teehan, director of education at the Manchester Community Music School, is active as a freelance performer throughout New England. Filatova, a native of Russia, is a well-known piano teacher and chamber music entrepreneur who also performs throughout New England and is an accompanist at the music school. The concert starts at 12:10 p.m., lasts less than an hour, and is free. For more info, call the Manchester Community Music School at 644-4548 or visit mcmusicschool.org. Grace Episcopal Church is at the corner of Lowell and Pine streets. ? Granite State Opera: The one large-scale event coming up soon is out in Portsmouth this weekend, when Granite State Opera stages an Opera Gala concert. The event, set for Saturday, Jan. 13, features competitors from the Metropolitan Opera National Council competition, a prestigious national contest for up-and-coming young singers. Like who? (Like whom?) Three altogether?two young divas with New England roots, Sandra Piques Eddy and Barbara Quintiliani, who will join "National Grand Finalist" Charles Mays, Jr. for an evening of opera favorites. The two-hour program features arias, duets, and trios from a wide range of composers, running the gamut from Mozart to Massenet. Music director Philip Lauriat will be on hand to lead the Granite State Opera orchestra. If you've never experienced operatic voices live, there's nothing like it, and this is a good way to get acquainted. If you really want to get acquainted, there's an after-show reception at the nearby Sheraton Harborside to meet the artists. A press release announcing the Opera Gala contained the quote of the week from Granite State Opera executive director John McLeod: "Most folks can understand it's sort of the opera world's equivalent of American Idol, the only exception being that no one whose voice is actually remotely bad ever gets near the competition door." Three cheers for plain words about classical music. The concert is Saturday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. at the Music Hall in Portsmouth. Tickets are $19 to $38; for more info call 436-2400 or visit musichall.org. For info about Granite State Opera, visit granitestateopera.org. |
1/04/2007 Pictures, please
|
Navigation