Music Mountain Welcomes Dover String Quartet This Weekend

Music Mountain, America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, continues its 85th Anniversary season with Connecticut's own Michael Berkeley presenting a musical revue tonight, September 6 (6:30PM). The Dover String Quartet returns to Gordon Hall on Sunday, September 7 (3PM) with guest artist Roberto Diaz, viola. This summer has welcomed a wide range of music for audiences of all ages - from classical, to jazz, country and this weekend's tribute to the Broadway musical - it has been a summer to celebrate! Concerts run thru September 14.

It's Saturday Night on Broadway! Spend the evening with Michael Berkeley when he presents a musical revue: "No Tune Like A Show Tune." Celebrate the Golden Age of Broadway with Michael Berkeley & Friends in acoustically perfect Gordon Hall . Thrill to your favorite show tunes in this nostalgic and fast-paced musical revue!

Michael Berkeley has directed more than 40 shows for TriArts Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, CT. His directing credits include: Grease, My Fair Lady, The Will Rogers Follies, and Gypsy, among many others. Michael's musical direction and conducting has taken him around the world, including the Far East tour of South Pacific, and the U.S./ Canadian Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (with Donny Osmond). As an educator, Michael has worked extensively with youth theatre programs and teaching workshops, serving as an artist-in-residence and director/musical director.

Dover String Quartet returns for a second visit to Music Mountain this summer with Roberto Diaz, Viola. Sunday afternoon's program will include Haydn: String Quartet in G Major Opus 76 # 1; Shostakovich: String Quartet# 7 in F Sharp Minor, Opus 108; and Brahms: Viola Quintet in G Major, Opus 111.

The Dover String Quartet is considered one of the most remarkably talented string quartets ever to emerge at such a young age. Their most recent achievement was at the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition - where they won the Grand Prize, as well as all three Special Prizes: the R.S. Williams & Sons Haydn Prize for the best performance of Haydn, the Székely Prize for the best performance of Schubert, and the Canadian Commission Prize for the best performance of a newly commissioned work. In addition to their exceptional musicianship, the Dover String Quartet is an active member of Music for Food, an initiative by musicians to help fight hunger in their home communities. The ensemble has been named the first Quartet-in-Residence at the venerated Curtis Institute of Music.

A violist of international reputation, Roberto Díaz is president and CEO of the Curtis Institute of Music. Mr. Díaz has had a significant impact on American musical life and continues to do so in his dual roles as performer and educator. Since founding Curtis On Tour six seasons ago, Mr. Díaz has taken the hugely successful program to North and South America, Europe, and Asia, performing chamber music side-by-side with Curtis students and other faculty and alumni of the school.

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, wine & beer are also available for purchase.

Music Mountain's chamber music series will conclude with the Cassatt String Quartet with Ursula Oppens, Piano (September 14).

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series will conclude with Tater Patch (September 13).

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 (Music Mountain gratefully acknowledges children admission support by the Hellen Plummer Foundation for a gift in memory of James Merrill, Connecticut's first Poet Laureate). Saturday Twilight Concerts are at 6:30pm. Chamber Music concerts are at 3pm on Sundays. 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.

Photo by Al Torres

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