1 Photo
The Southampton Cultural Center Chamber Music Series kicked off its second season last Sunday, filling the Levitas Center for the Performing Arts once again with the sounds of classical music. All told, the series will present eight concerts plus a special benefit performance to wrap up the season on May 2.
The series continues this Saturday with the contemporary ensemble Yarn/Wire, a group that mixes classical music, avant-garde theater and experimental pop music presented by two pianists and two percussionists.
The Chamber Music series presents a mix of guest ensembles, recitals and performances by the Southampton Cultural Center (SCC) Chamber Players, with the music running the gamut from contemporary to baroque to classical repertoire. The musicians and groups have been selected for their high level of musicianship. Many of the ensembles and individual musicians have performed around the world and in prestigious venues.
Some of the performers are based at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook. The series was founded and is programmed by violinist Marc Levine—an award-winning musician and Stony Brook University graduate who performs in the series with the SCC Chamber Players.
One of the highlights of the series will be the Escher String Quartet, performing on April 4. One of the ensembles in residence at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the group has appeared at Symphony Space in Manhattan, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Louvre in Paris, among others.
The benefit concert on May 2 will feature Philip Setzer from the Emerson String Quartet, an award-winning ensemble that has released more than 30 award-winning recordings (www.emersonquartet.com). Their latest CD, “Intimate Letters,” has been nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance. Mr. Setzer, a violinist, alternates first chair with fellow Emerson String Quartet violinist Eugene Drucker.
Among the world-class musicians and diverse programming, there are three ensembles from Stony Brook University: The Stony Brook Opera will perform songs by contemporary American composers on February 14; the Contemporary Chamber Players take the stage on March 14; and Stony Brook Baroque will play on April 18. There are two visiting ensembles: Yarn/Wire, appearing this Saturday; and the Escher String Quartet, performing on April 4.
Anchoring the series are concerts by SCC Chamber Players. The ensemble has a changing cast of musicians presenting chamber music society style concerts, meaning not every instrument or musician appears in every piece performed.
The SCC Chamber Players opened the series last Sunday with a concert featuring works by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) and Franz Schubert (1797-1828). The program was punctuated by the piece “Eli Zion” by Leo Zeitlin (1884-1930) to help mark Hanukkah.
In every case, the applause was loud and long-lasting after each piece. Before beginning each selection, pianist Michael Mizrahi introduced points of musical interest. Mr. Mizrahi, an award-winning musician and educator, has performed and presented around the globe.
The SCC Chamber Players will next perform on March 7, playing the complete Brahms sonatas for violin and piano. Their third concert on April 25 will feature new music.
The Chamber Music Series is a welcome addition to the Cultural Center’s diverse lineup of programming, SCC director Kristin Lonnie said this week. Concerts are typically held on Sunday afternoons to round out the Cultural Center’s programming. The afternoon is also a better time for seniors, Ms. Lonnie said.
The series fills a void in the East End’s off-season, when classical music is sporadic or impossible to find. “We build an appreciative audience in the summer and then it’s a wasteland in the winter,” pianist Alvin Novak of Water Mill said. “People want to be able to hear classical music throughout the entire year.”
Tickets for the Southampton Cultural Center Chamber Music Series are $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Tickets at the door; cash or check only. The Yarn/Wire concert begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 19; all other concerts begin at 3 p.m. on Sundays. For information, call 287-4377 or visit www.southamptonculturalcenter.org. To be added to the mailing list, e-mail Marc Levine at mhlevine@gmail.com.
on Dec 15, 2009