Aug. 12-20—RANDOLPH—The Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival will kick off its 25th anniversary at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph the second week of August. Cellist and Music Director Peter Sanders has packed the two week residency with a lot of music — both traditional and quite unusual. The first Saturday evening concert, on Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m., features the well-loved Schubert “Trout” piano quintet, last performed during the very first season in 1993. Also on the program will be Robert Schumann’s “Fantasy Pieces Opus 73” and “Three Madrigals for Violin and Viola” by twentieth century Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu. The musicians will be violinist Basia Danilow, violist Arturo Delmoni, cellist Peter Sanders, and, new to the festival, pianist Adrienne Kim and bassist David Mercier.
On Sunday, Aug. 13, Pentangle Arts welcomes the festival for its annual performance in Woodstock at 4 p.m. at the North Universalist Chapel. This show will be an encore performance of pieces by Schumann, Martinů, and Schubert. For tickets to this event only, visit pentanglearts.org.
The quite unusual happens during the second week of the festival. World-class artists from the jazz and chamber music world will join forces to produce a concert from both genres and a mixture of the two, Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m. It includes music for string quartet with a jazz relationship with composers such as Debussy, Piazzolla, and Jerome Kern, as well as music drawn from jazz greats Chet Baker and Stan Getz.
A first for the festival will be an evening of improvisation on Thursday, Aug. 17, 7-8:30 p.m. A Guide to Improvisation and Musicianship will be led by the jazz contingent of Franceschini, Ephron, Vega, and Perowsky. Musicians of all levels — students, adult amateurs and young professionals, jazz and non-jazz players alike — are welcome. Participation is encouraged and folks are invited to bring their instruments.
The annual Friday Night in the Gallery on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. will be a stringed instrument and bow symposium led by New York luthier Guy Rabut and Vermont bow maker Eben Bodach-Turner. Festival artists will join in on a lively discussion about choices that are made when creating the tools of the trade, and will also play various instruments with various bows.
The Concert for Kids on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 10:30 a.m. has an unusual twist as well, with a visit from the local Island Time Steel Drums, led by Scott Paulson and Barbara Smith. Youngsters will have a chance for a hands-on music learning experience, exploring the basics of playing the steel drums and then culminating with a performance. There will be two 45-minute educational on-stage sessions for groups of 13 students each, with the rest of the audience cheering them on. Early sign-ups are encouraged for the two session slots at islandtimesteel@hotmail.com. The annual ice cream social follows for everyone, participants and audience alike.
The annual finale of the festival will again be the popular focus on a communal meal and Bach, this time Breakfast with Bach/Baroque Brunch. On Sunday, Aug. 20, festival artists will be joined by Vermont Youth Orchestra members led by Yutaka Kono, in a performance of Bach’s Orchestral Suite #2 and a little something extra. The meal is served in Upper Gallery at Chandler and the concert will be performed across the street at Bethany Church. The meal is at 11 a.m., and the concert at 12:30 p.m.
For a full rundown of offerings and to purchase tickets, cvcmf.org, or call 802-728-6464 weekdays 12 to 5 p.m. Chandler Music Hall is fully accessible and equipped for the hearing impaired.
Courtesy of Pentangle Arts
Central Vt. Music Festival cellist and musical director Peter Sanders brings the festival to the area in its 25th year.
