Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12 — RUTLAND/MIDDLEBURY — Katherine Winterstein, the concertmaster of the Vermont Symphony, will perform as soloist with the Champlain Philharmonic on Samuel Barber’s lush Violin Concerto on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Grace Congregational Church in Rutland, and Sunday, Oct. 12, at 4 p.m. at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury.
Winterstein is well known to Vermont audiences for her leadership role with the Vermont Symphony, and also as a member of the Craftsbury Chamber Players and faculty at Middlebury College. Along with her concertmaster duties, she has performed as soloist with VSO. This will be her second appearance as soloist with the Champlain Philharmonic. Winterstein is also acting assistant concertmaster of the Rhode Island Philharmonic, and she performs regularly with the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.
Winterstein said she was very pleased to be performing again with the Philharmonic, and especially with the Barber concert. “Its simple beauty is undeniable, in the way only Barber can be, and yet it is full of surprise turns that keep audiences and soloists coming back time after time.”
The Philharmonic, under the baton of music director Paul Gambill, will also take a star turn in the spot light on some favorite works that feature members of the orchestra in extended solos. Rimsky Korsokov’s Capriccio Espagnol features several of the orchestra’s principal players, including Margaret Roddy, co-principal clarinet, Betsy Killorin, co-principal flute, Ruby Brezinsky, English horn, and concertmaster Susan Janes. The fiery work, which is infused with Spanish flavors, has become a favorite of audiences and is considered one of the core repertoire works for orchestras.
The Spanish theme continues with Espana, an overture-like work with an undeniably buoyant energy. The program also includes Hector Berlioz’s bombastic Roman Carnival Overture, again featuring the orchestra’s English hornist, Ruby Brezinsky.
Tickets are available at the door for both performances for $15 general admission, $10 seniors and $5 students. Advance tickets for the Middlebury performance at Town Hall Theater may be purchased by calling the box office at 802-382-9222.
