Richard Goode, Emerson, Borromeo, and More Lead MUSIC MOUNTAIN's 2016 Season

Concert aficionados from around the country will want to mark their calendars for Music Mountain, America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, when it kicks off its record-breaking 87th Anniversary Season beginning Sunday, June 5th! The summer will feature 15 weekends of incredible music including returning favorite chamber ensembles, first-time guests, the ever-popular Saturday Evening Twilight Series featuring an array of Jazz ensembles and musicians, and the second season of the Master Class Series plus so much more! See why the New Yorker called Music Mountain "The Summer Shrine of the String Quartet." Concerts are scheduled through September 11.

Newly appointed Musical Director, Jonathan Yates has taken the rich history of Music Mountain and built "upon its great legacy by exploring its roots, including its original dedication to new music, works outside the string quartet repertoire and teaching." In maintaining that spirit, this season will highlight these new accomplishments:

• The Music Mountain debut of lauded pianist Richard Goode in a solo recital on July 31, in addition to the return of esteemed artists including the Emerson Quartet, Borromeo Quartet, Shanghai Quartet, cellist Colin Carr, and pianists Peter Serkin and Gilbert Kalish.
• Over twenty works that have never been performed at Music Mountain before, including music by Kevin Puts, Lev Zhurbin, Daniel S. Godfrey, and Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire.
• The inauguration of the collaboration with the Catskill Jazz Factory, which will bring many of the youngest and most exciting jazz musicians in the country to Music Mountain.
• The renewed dedication to teaching at Music Mountain, including the second season of the Music Mountain Master Classes, with faculty members Misha Amory, viola; Colin Carr, cello; and Ayano Ninomiya, violin.

The 87th Anniversary Season launches on Sunday, June 5 (3PM) with the Opening Concert & Reception featuring the thrilling Emerson String Quartet performing Haydn: String Quartet in D Minor, Opus 76 # 2; Beethoven: String Quartet in G Major, Opus 18 #2; and Schubert: String Quartet in G Major, Opus 161, D.887. The season continues with eleven acclaimed string quartets playing many notable programs, including Borromeo String Quartet (June 12), Penderecki String Quartet (June 19), Cassatt String Quartet (June 26), Cantata Profana (July 3), Enso String Quartet (July 17), Avalon String Quartet (July 24), Harlem String Quartet (August 7), St. Petersburg String Quartet (August 14 & 21), Arianna String Quartet (August 28), Shanghai String Quartet (September 3 & 4), and Amernet String Quartet (September 11). Twelve renowned guest artists will also play this summer, including Colin Carr, cello; Peter Serkin, piano; Julia Hsu, piano; Daniel Epstein, piano; Soyeon Kate Lee, piano; Richard Goode, piano; Pamela Mia Paul, piano; Francine Kay, piano; Raman Ramakrishnan, cello; Jonathan Yates, piano; Gilbert Kalish, piano; and Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet. (see below for detailed schedule.)

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series is set to begin on Saturday, June 11 (6:30PM) with The Galvanized Jazz Band! The Twilight Series continues with returning favorites and first time guests including The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (June 18); New Black Eagle Jazz Band (June 25); Swingtime Big Band (July 2); Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks (July 9); Joanna Wallfisch (July 16); Dan Tepfer (July 23); Will & Peter Anderson (July 30); Chris Washburne & The Syotos Band (August 6); Chris Pattishall Octet (August 13); Michael Berkeley (August 20); Cantata Profana (August 27); and Jive By Five (September 10).

The 87th season will also mark the beginning of two new ticketing options to compliment their established family friendly ticket prices! Concert goers will be able to reserve their favorite seat(s) in advance for a one-time payment of $60 per seat, per season. For information on how to reserve a seat and specific seat availability, please call 860-824-7126. Music Mountain also introduces the Music Mountain Gold Pass! Major Gold Pass benefits include: Admission to all concerts; Priority Reserved Seating (subject to availability); Half price for guests to all regularly priced concerts. Cost for Gold Pass Memberships: Individual: $780; Pair: $1,500. For a list of other benefits and more information, please call 860-824-7126. All Gold Passes are transferable.

Music Mountain is located in Falls Village, Connecticut on Music Mountain Road, where a short scenic drive will bring you to Gordon Hall atop Music Mountain. Free parking and picnic facilities are available. Food, locally baked cookies, coffee, and spring water are available for purchase.

Music Mountain is supported, in part, by the Connecticut Commission On Culture & Tourism.

Specially Priced Concerts are as Follows: Tickets for the Season Opening Concert & Reception on Sunday, June 5 (3PM) are $75 and include a voucher for any regularly priced 2016 concert. All tickets to the Sunday, July 10 Piano 4 Hands Concert are $60. Tickets for the Mid-Summer Benefit Concert on Sunday, July 31 (3PM) are $75 and include a voucher for any regularly priced 2016 concert. Tickets for the Labor Day Benefit Concert & Reception are $75 and include a voucher for any regularly priced 2017 concert.

Chamber Music Concerts are $35 at the door/$30 in advance. Twilight Series Concerts are $30 at the door/$27 in advance. Children ages 5-18 are admitted FREE for ALL CONCERTS when accompanied by a ticket holder. Saturday Twilight Concerts are at 6:30pm. Sunday afternoon Chamber Music concerts are at 3pm. Group rates and pre season ticket vouchers are available. Discounts apply through participating organizations. For a complete summer schedule, special ticket prices, and to download a ticket order form visit www.musicmountain.org or call 860-824-7126.