Get all the top news & discounts for Connecticut & beyond.
Music Mountain, America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, continues its 87th Anniversary Season with a benefit concert featuring legendary pianist Peter Serkin and rising star Julia Hsu performing a special program on Sunday, July 10 (3pm); Piano 4 Hands will highlight Bach, Bizet, Brahms, and Mozart. The dynamic Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks return for another summer playing the best of 1920s and '30s jazz on Saturday, July 9 (6:30pm). The summer will feature 15 weekends of incredible music including returning favorite chamber ensembles and musicians (pianists Peter Serkin and Julia Hsu), first-time guests (pianist Richard Goode), the ever-popular Saturday Evening Twilight Series, featuring an array of Jazz ensembles and musicians, including the artists of the Catskill Jazz Factory, and the second season of the Music Mountain Master Classes for Young Artists 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.
Music Mountain welcomes again Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks on Saturday evening! Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks are renowned on the big band circuit for their commitment to preserving and authentically presenting 1920s and '30s jazz and popular music. For over 40 years, Vince Giordano has single handedly kept alive a wonderful genre of American music that continues to spread the joy and pathos of an era that shaped our nation. The Grammy Award Winning band has appeared in film (The Aviator), television (HBO's Bessie, Boardwalk Empire), and regularly performs live throughout New York City and far afield including appearances at The Rainbow Room, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and weekly engagements at Iguana NYC.
Also, offered on Saturday evening (5PM) is a pre-concert dinner at the intimate Falls Village Inn. $70 ticket includes dinner & concert. Seating is limited; reservations must be made by Friday, July 8.
Legendary pianist Peter Serkin and rising star Julia Hsu present a one-of-a-kind performance on Sunday afternoon. The benefit concert will feature a program of Music Mountain premieres including J.S. Bach: Arr. György Kurtag O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig BWV 656; Brahms: (Arr. Brahms) Sextet in B Flat Major, Opus 18; Mozart: Andante and Variations in G Major, K. 501; and Bizet: Jeux d'Enfants.
Recognized as an artist of passion and integrity, the distinguished American pianist Peter Serkin has successfully conveyed the essence of five centuries of repertoire. His inspired performances with symphony orchestras, in recital appearances, chamber music collaborations and on recordings are equally valued worldwide. An avid exponent of the music of many of the 20th and 21st century's most important composers,
Mr. Serkin has been instrumental in bringing to life the music of Schoenberg, Webern, Berg, Stravinsky, among many others. He has performed with the world's major symphony orchestras, collaborated with Alexander Schneider, Pamela Frank, Yo-Yo Ma, the Budapest, Guarneri, Orion and Shanghai String Quartets, and performed many important world premieres. Mr. Serkin has recently made several arrangements of four-hands music by Mozart, Schumann and his grandfather, Adolf Busch, for various chamber ensembles and for full orchestra. Mr. Serkin currently teaches at Bard College Conservatory of Music.
A formidable and versatile young pianist of uncommon musical vision, Julia Hsu has emerged as a leading light in the classical scene. Originally from Taiwan, Hsu studied at The Purcell School for young musicians with Professor Patsy Toh. She continued her studies in London, Helsinki, and Germany and completed her second Master's Degree in Piano Accompaniment at London's Royal Academy of Music. Ms. Hsu is a Collaborative Piano Fellow at Bard College Conservatory of Music.
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 and brownies, coffee, tea, lemonade, and spring water are available for purchase.
Music Mountain is supported, in part, by the Connecticut Commission On Culture & Tourism.
Chamber music concerts continue with Enso String Quartet with Daniel Epstein, piano (July 17), Avalon String Quartet with Soyeon Kate Lee, piano (July 24), Richard Goode, piano (July 31), and Harlem String Quartet with Pamela Mia Paul, piano (August 7).
The Saturday Evening Twilight Series continues with the Catskill Jazz Factory's presentations of Joanna Wallfisch (July 16), Dan Tepfer (July 23), Will and Peter Anderson (July 30), and Chris Washburne & The Syotos Band featuring Andre Mehmari (August 6).
Specially Priced Concerts are as Follows: All tickets to the Peter Serkin/Julia Hsu, Piano 4 Hands Concert on Sunday, July 10 are $60. Tickets for the Mid-Summer Benefit Concert with pianist Richard Goode 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 with the Shanghai String Quartet, and pianists Gilbert Kalish and Jonathan Yates are $75 and include a voucher for any regularly priced 2017 concert.
The 87th season will continue to offer two ticketing options to complement the 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 continues its popular Gold Pass program. Major Gold Pass benefits include: Admission to all concerts; Priority Reserved Seating (subject to availability); $20 price for one guest per Gold Pass. 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.
Chamber Music Concerts are $35 at the door/$30 in advance. Twilight Series Concerts are $30 at the door/$27 in advance. Pre-Concert Dinner is $70 and includes admission to Saturday evening concert. 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 plans 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.
