Chamber Music Sedona will begin its 2017-18 season Sunday, Oct. 29, when the Orion String Quartet, joined by flutist Tara O’Connor, returns to Sedona after a nine-year hiatus.
“We are pleased to bring to Sedona for our citizens and visitors truly world-class and internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles, and during our winter and spring music festivals for Sedona youth and the broader community,” said artistic director Bert Harclerode.
All concerts take place 2:30 p.m. unless noted at the Sedona Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road.
“Our 35th anniversary season celebrates our community presence, commitment and gratitude to those that support us,” Harclerode said.
The Orion is consistently praised for the extraordinary musical integrity it brings to performances, offering diverse programs that juxtapose classic works of the standard quartet literature with masterworks by 20th and 21st century composers. The quartet, comprised of violinists and brothers Daniel and Todd Phillips, violist Steven Tannenbom and cellist Timothy Eddy, remains on the cutting edge of programming with wide-ranging commissions from composers Chick Corea, John Harbison, Leon Kirchner, Marc Neikrug, Lowell Liebermann, Peter Lieberson and Wynton Marsalis, and enjoys a creative partnership with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company.
The fifth Sedona Winter Festival will be Tuesday through Sunday, Jan. 9 through 14, led by cellist Nicholas Canellakis and clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, who have invited violinist Arnaud Sussmann and pianist Adam Golka, to join them for five days of community engagement through music.
The week’s activities include film hosted by artists in partnership with the Sedona International Film Festival, a Salon Musicale concert at a private home, three concerts for youth and on Saturday, “Musical Explorations and Discoveries” for youth grades 8 through 12.
On Sunday, Feb. 4, the Zukerman Trio makes is Sedona debut featuring violinist Pinchas Zukerman, cellist Amanda Forsyth and pianist Angela Cheng. Zukerman is an inspiration to young musicians and in a continuing effort to motivate future generations of musicians through education and outreach, the renowned artist teamed up in 2002 with four protégés to form a string quintet called the Zukerman Chamber Players.
Sunday, March 11, the Dublin Guitar Quartet makes its Arizona debut. Guitarists Brian Bolger, Pat Brunnock, Chien Buggle and Tomas O’Durcain make up the quartet, which is devoted exclusively to contemporary music.
On Wednesday through Sunday, April 4 through 8, the Fauré Quartett will bring the 35th season to a close as it makes its Sedona debut during the Spring Music Festival. Whoever is playing chamber music today can’t be limited to the rules from decades ago.
The expectations regarding the diversity of repertoire have changed, creating room for ensembles like the Fauré Quartett, which has quickly established itself as one of the world’s leading piano quartets. The Fauré, featuring pianist Dirk Mommertz, violinist Erika Geldsetzer, violist Sascha Frömbling and cellist Konstantin Heidrich, continuously seeks new sound fields in chamber music and perform compositions outside the mainstream repertoire. Worldwide tours raise their profile abroad and international masterclasses are part of their work with students.
“This promises to be one of our very finest seasons in our 35-year history, and we look forward to welcoming all music lovers from all walks of life to our musical community with the comfortable and optically welcoming SPAC sight lines,” Harclerode said.
Visit ChamberMusicSedona.org or call 204-2415 for ticket prices, special events and other information. Chamber Music Sedona is supported by the city of Sedona, Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona, the Bresnan Family, their many patrons and advertisers.
