Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival Celebrates Leonard Bernstein's 100th in Concert

Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival (CCCMF) celebrating its 40th anniversary season as Cape Cod's premiere presenter of summer chamber music, presents the centenary celebration concertLeonard Bernstein at 100, honoring the composer and conductor's prolific life and career, on Friday, August 16, 7:30 pm, First Congregational Church, 200 Main Street, Wellfleet.

In a long-anticipated 40th season highlight, Leonard Bernstein at 100 offers a concert program celebrating the 100th birthday of Composer/Conductor Leonard Bernstein, the Lawrence born, Harvard-educated maverick of his time. The Borromeo String Quartet, along with CCCMF Co-Artistic Directors Jon Manasse and Jon Nakamatsu, as well as other Festival artists perform a thrilling program that includes Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" in its original scoring for 13 instruments, in recognition of his role as teacher and mentor to Bernstein. The evening's special guest, Leonard Bernstein's daughter Jamie Bernstein, author, narrator and filmmaker, offers anecdotes and stories from his legendary life and the music he created throughout, contributing to his status as an American icon.

CCCMF's 40th anniversary season celebrates the many contributions of Borromeo String Quartet to the Festival's success and longevity, including the ensemble's violinist Nicholas Kitchen, who served for seven years as the Festival's artistic director.

The visionary performances of the prize-winning Borromeo String Quartet have established them as one of the most important string quartets of our time. Now celebrating its 29th year as an ensemble, the Borromeo have performed vast repertoire worldwide and collaborated with many of today's great composers and performers. Audiences and critics alike have championed the Borromeo's ability to bring fire back to often-heard repertoire, while making even the most challenging new music approachable. The Borromeo continues to be a pioneer in its use of technology, recognized with the trailblazing distinction as the first string quartet to utilize laptop computers on the concert stage, a revealing and transformative experience that they now teach to students around the world. The quartet features Nicholas Kitchen, violin, Kristopher Tong, violin, Luther Warren, viola, and Yeesun Kim, cello. The artists currently maintain residency at New England Conservatory of Music, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Taos School of Music summer program.

Program: Leonard Bernstein at 100

Borromeo String Quartet: Nicholas Kitchen, violin, Kristopher Tong, violin, Luther Warren, viola, and Yeesun Kim, cello

Jon Nakamatsu, piano, Jon Manasse, clarinet, Brian Zeger, piano, Jamie Bernstein, Festival Artists

Bernstein: Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano

Bernstein: Two pieces from Sabras

Copland: Movement for String Quartet

Bernstein: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano

Copland: Appalachian Spring

Ticket orders received on or after July 1: $40 general admission; $15 for college students (with ID); FREE for attendees 18 and under. General admission to three or more concerts: $38 per ticket. Emerson String Quartet concert: $57 ($55 when purchased as part of the three-concert package).

Festival seating is limited to venue capacity, advance purchase is recommended. Tickets purchased online can be printed at home or picked up at will call at the performances. Tickets may also be purchased by calling or visiting the box office at 508-247-9400 or at 3 Main Street, Unit 6, North Eastham. Box office hours are 10 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. Phone orders are available until 12 noon on the day of each concert.

For more information about Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival's 2019 season, performers, mission and venues, visit capecodchambermusic.org, or follow Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: Leonard Bernstein's daughter Jamie Bernstein, author, narrator and filmmaker, image by Carol Friedman

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