Apple Tree Arts showcases faculty talents Saturday
Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra and Apple Tree Arts present “Apple Tree Arts Faculty Showcase” Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m. featuring an eclectic mix of Romantic, 20th century and modern chamber music at the Great Hall, One Grafton Common in Grafton. Admission is $18. Tickets are available at www.claflinhill.org or by calling Apple Tree Arts at 508-839-4286. Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available to purchase.
“For the second concert of our chamber music series, we’re devoting an evening to highlight the talented faculty and staff of Apple Tree Arts who perform a diverse repertoire with our musicians,” explained Paul Surapine, conductor, founding and executive director of the CHSO.
“Several of ATA’s faculty are CHSO musicians as well ,including flutist Amy Carroll, violinist Kathryn Haddad, myself and cellist Mario Portev (who is not performing),” said Surapine.
The program begins with Johannes Brahms: Trio in A minor Op. 144 for Clarinet, Cello and Piano performed by Surapine on clarinet, CHSO’s principal cellist Johann Soults and Corbin Calloway Bolton, pianist and ATA faculty member.
Two selections for clarinet, flute and piano are included in the concert. Jacques Ibert: Aria for Clarinet, Flute and Piano and Camille Saint-Saens: Tarantella for Clarinet, Flute and Piano. Flutist Amy Carroll, Corbin Calloway Bolton and Surapine perform these selections.
The concert features 10 selections from “Vignettes: Covered Wagon Woman,” a song cycle composed by Alan Louis Smith based on the journal of Margaret Ann Alsip Frink for mezzo-soprano, violin, cello and piano. Frink with her husband and two companions travelled across the American continent from Indiana to Sacramento, CA to seek excitement and adventure during the Gold Rush in 1850.
Alaina Calloway Bolton, mezzo-soprano and ATA music education director chose this piece for several reasons.
“It’s a contemporary, fascinating work that features mezzo-soprano, violin, cello and piano so well,” Calloway Bolton noted. “The music authentically and poignantly captures the emotion of the original texts, the piano sets the scene, the cello represents Mr. Frink and the violin portrays Mrs. Frink’s inner thoughts and feelings.”.
Musicians performing the selections with Ms. Calloway Bolton include violinist Kathryn Haddad, cellist Johann Soults and pianist Corbin Calloway Bolton. The piece was commissioned for mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, pianist Warren Jones and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and premiered at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in New York City in 2008.
“The End of a New Beginning” is the final concert in the chamber music series to be presented April 4 at the Great Hall. The concert includes works by Aaron Copland and Sergei Prokofiev for Clarinet, String Quartet and Piano performed by Surapine and the CHSO’s principal strings. Carl Maria von Weber’s jubilant Quintet for Clarinet and Strings completes the program.
The chamber music concert series is made possible with grants and sponsorships from Homefield Credit Union, The Brigham Hill Foundation, CSR Financial Services and the Grafton Cultural Council with additional support from Koopman Lumber & Hardware.
