Pacific Serenades Concert Series
Press Release Previewing
FOUR WORLD PREMIERES FEATURED
DURING PACIFIC SERENADES 18TH SEASON
Noted Chamber Music Ensemble Featuring Many of West Coast's Most Prominent Musicians Presents Four Programs with Three Performances Each from January to June in West L.A., San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley
Pacific Serenades, one of the nation's foremost chamber music ensembles, presents four world premieres along with classical masterworks repertory during its 18th anniversary season which opens on Saturday, January 31, 2004. Featuring many of the West Coast's most prominent musicians, including principals of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Pasadena Symphony, Pacific Serenades is guided by Founder-Artistic Director Mark Carlson, who has led the commissioning of some 72 new chamber works for the ensemble since its inception in 1982, more than any other group of its kind in this country.
The 2004 season offers three performances of four different programs from January to June. Each program is presented at the UCLA Faculty Center, the Neighborhood Church in Pasadena and at a private home (in locations ranging from West L.A. to the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley). The new works, commissioned by Pacific Serenades, are by famed Mexican composer Daniel Catan; Pasadenan Bruce Babcock; award-winning Benjamin Lees; and the versatile Ian Krouse. Other composers featured during the season include Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Bartok, Bruch, Debussy and Boccherini.
"I believe that this, our 18th season, is among the most varied Pacific Serenades has ever offered," said Carlson. "The programs include a pleasant balance of the familiar and less familiar - compositions you don't always have the opportunity to hear in concert halls. "California and its geography inspired us, as you can tell from the titles we've given each program," he went on. "And all of this year's new commissions come from composers who live in Southern California. Our choices were also influenced by our talented performers. It should be an exciting season for our audiences and for our musicians."
The first concert series is Saturday, January 31, Sunday, February 1 and Tuesday, February 10; the second is Saturday, March 6, Sunday, March 7 and Tuesday, March 16; the third is Saturday, April 24, Sunday, April 25 and Tuesday, April 27; and the fourth is Saturday, June 5, Sunday, June 6 and Tuesday, June 8. Saturday performances are at 8 p.m., each at a private home; Sunday performances are at 4 p.m. at Pasadena's Neighborhood Church; and Tuesday performances are at 8 p.m. at the UCLA Faculty Center in Westwood.
Program One (January 31, February 1, February 10), "Of Golden Hills and Dark Forests," features the world premiere of Daniel Catann's Divertimento for 2 violins, 2 violas, cello, and double bass; Mozart's Quintet in C major, K. 515, for 2 violins, 2 violas, and cello; and Beethoven's String Quartet in G major, Op. 18, No. 2. Musicians are Phillip Levy, violin; Connie Kupka, violin; Simon Oswell, viola; Samuel Formicola, viola; David Speltz, cello; and Bruce Morgenthaler, double bass. The January 31 Opening Night concert will be held at the home of Diego Miralles and Michelle Feynman in Altadena.
"We were delighted when we realized that Daniel Catan now lives in Southern California and was excited about writing for Pacific Serenades," Carlson explained. "He wanted to write a chamber piece for strings, and I wanted to present the Mozart Quintet and this Beethoven String Quartet, two of my favorites. Two of the program's pieces have parts for two violas, a rarity. How serendipitous!"
The world premiere in Program Two (March 6, 7 and 16) is Bruce Babcock's new work for clarinet, viola, and piano. The series, titled "From Sage-Filled Canyons And Verdant Rivers," also includes Brahms' Sonata in G major, Op. 78, for violin and piano; Bartok's Contrasts, for clarinet, violin, and piano; and selections from Bruch's Eight Pieces, Op. 83, for clarinet, viola, and piano. Musicians are Gary Gray, clarinet; Margaret Batjer, violin; Roland Kato, viola; and Ayke Agus, piano. The March 6 concert takes place at the home of Evan and Ronna Binn in Tarzana.
"Bruce Babcock has composed a prodigious collection of works for the screen," said Carlson. "Happily, Gary Gray, our favorite clarinetist, suggested that we commission a piece from Bruce, and here he has given us a wonderful piece that features among others, Gary."
Program Three (April 24, 25, 27), "Blue Waves, Snowy Peaks," premieres Benjamin Lees' Tapestry for flute, clarinet, cello, and piano and includes Brahms' Sonata in F major, Op. 99, for cello and piano; Griffes' Poem for flute and piano; and Beethoven's Trio in Bb major, Op. 11, for clarinet, cello, and piano. Musicians are Mark Carlson, flute; Gary Gray, clarinet; David Speltz, cello; and Ayke Agus, piano. The Brentwood home of John and Barbara McLoughlin is the location of the April 24 concert. "For years we have wanted to commission a work from Benjamin Lees," Carlson
said. "Proving it pays to wait, now we will celebrate his 80th birthday and our 18th anniversary together with his beautiful Tapestry for flute, clarinet, cello and piano."
The 2004 season concludes with Program Four (June 5, 6, 8), "Like A Warm Zephyr," and the premiere of Ian Krouse's new work for guitar and string quartet. Other works include Debussy's String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10 and Boccherini's Quintet in D major, G. 448 "Fandango." The musicians are Evan Hirschelman, guitar; Sungil Lee, violin; Connie Kupka, violin; David Walther, viola; and David Speltz, cello. The June 5 concert takes place at the home of Elyse and Stanley Grinstein in Brentwood. "This is the third piece Ian Krouse has written for Pacific Serenades," Carlson said. "He has composed several for the guitar, but never before for us. Now we have this exciting combination of his quintet and Evan Hirschelman playing it for our final concert of the season."
Since its founding in 1982 by flutist/composer Mark Carlson, Pacific Serenades has become one of the foremost chamber music organizations in the nation and one of the longest-performing on the west coast. The Los Angeles Times called it "unique in its purpose and format.chamber music with a difference." Pacific Serenades exists so that music lovers -- audience, performers and composers alike - can enjoy outstanding new music along with the great standard classical repertory performed in the intimate settings for which it was intended. The performers are among the best usicians in the country, and many of those numerous composers who are commissioned each season by Pacific Serenades have seen their new works go on to further performances by other ensembles all over the world.
Pacific Serenades' CD, The Hall of Mirrors, was a winner of the 2001 Chamber Music America/WQXR Records Awards.
Pacific Serenades concerts are supported in part by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the California Arts Council and receive generous support from The Ahmanson Foundation and Yamaha. The UCLA Faculty Center is located at 405 N. Hilgard Ave. (at Hilgard and Westholme), Westwood. The Pasadena Neighborhood Church is located at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena.
Season tickets for the Neighborhood Church and UCLA Faculty Center series are $85 per person. Season tickets for the private home series are $140 per person, which includes a post-concert reception. Single tickets are $28 for the Neighborhood Church and UCLA Faculty Center concerts and $45 for the private home concerts. Student tickets are available (with valid I.D.) at the Neighborhood Church and UCLA concerts for $5. All concerts are open to the public. To order tickets or for additional information, call (213) 534-3434.
and be sure to read more about Bruce Babcock's work in the interview he gave to Pacific Serenades board member Tony Spano, Jr.
   |
or Return to Home Page
