Best Classical Music Fall 2018

admin Posted OnSeptember 5, 2018

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Best Classical Music Fall 2018: Bernstein, Beethoven & Bach. Pathetique, The Four Seasons and Rhapsody in Blue. Did we mention German pastry and West Side Story?

In Mo Yang (violin), Caramoor, Wed, 9/12: 11am: Enjoy a 45 minute performance from violinist In Mo Yang in the Rosen House Music Room for just $25. A $56 ticket will get you lunch after the show. “From his first entrance onward, Yang was an arresting performer: now sweet, now excitable, now chaste, now florid, and always, everywhere, in command.” — The Boston Globe (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Performing Arts Center, Sun, 9/16: 3pm: The acclaimed Orpheus Chamber orchestra and the beloved Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii opens the PAC season with a new orchestration of Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto by composer Shuying Li. This program of Gentle Giants also explores the spiritual ecstasy of Arvo Pärt and a re-orchestration of Tchaikovsky’s Chamber Symphony No. 1 in D Major. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Bernstein Bash, Late Night with Leonard Bernstein, Copland House at Merestead, Fri, 9/21: 9pm: This journey into the life of the composer sold-out at Lincoln Center and in theaters across America. Hosted by his daughter Jamie Bernstein, this multi-media cabaret offers personal stories, and rare archival clips of the Maestro. Soprano Amy Burton and pianists John Musto and Michael Boriskin sample his most intimate works, and his favorite music, from Aaron Copland, Noel Coward and others. (455 Byram Lake Road Mt. Kisco: www.coplandhouse.org)

Bernstein Bash, Theater in Disguise, Copland House at Merestead, Sun, 9/23: 3pm: Theater in Disguise explores the master’s chamber music. The program features his Piano Trio, written as a teenager in the 1930s; Three Meditations, extracted from his Mass for the legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, and the rarely heard Variations on an Octatonic Scale, one of his last works. (455 Byram Lake Road Mt. Kisco: www.coplandhouse.org)

TCO presents: Nina Berman & Steven Beck, North Castle Public Library, Sun, 9/23: 3pm: The Chappaqua Orchestra presents versatile soprano and recording artist Nina Berman and acclaimed pianist Steven Beck in a program of 19th and early 20th century art songs. The program includes works by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Wolf, Debussy and Poulenc. TKTS just $15. (NCPL, 19 Whippoorwill Rd. E., Armonk; www.chappaquaorchestra.org)

Bernstein Bash, Bernstein in Black & White, Copland House at Merestead, Sat, 9/29: 8pm: Daredevil virtuosos John Musto and Michael Boriskin offer a view of Bernstein at the keyboard. This program features his theatrical overtures to Wonderful Town and Candide, and an explosive 4-hands version of the Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. (455 Byram Lake Road Mt. Kisco: www.coplandhouse.org)

Bernstein Bash, The Way It Flows, Copland House at Merestead, Sun, 9/30: 3pm: New Yorker film critic, David Denby hosts this program from longtime Bernstein associate and noted pianist Michael Barrett. Program highlights include Bernstein’s last major work, Arias and Barcarolles, “The Story of My Life” (cut from Wonderful Town) and Lamentation from Jeremiah. Featured are mezzo-soprano Katherine Kracht, baritone Justin Austin, and Copland House’s pianist Michael Boriskin. (455 Byram Lake Road Mt. Kisco: www.coplandhouse.org)

October

Bedford Chamber Concerts, Mozart/Beethoven, Wed, 10/10: 8pm: Dr. Anthony Newman’s Bedford Chamber Concerts perform Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Sinfonia Concertante by Mozart and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Dr. Newman was described by Time magazine as “The High Priest of the Harpsichord”. Wynton Marsalis called him “The High Priest of Bach.” Just $40 to see this world-renowned musician. (St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 382 Cantitoe St., Bedford; www.bedfordchamberconcerts.org)

American String Quartet with Salman Rushdie, Sat, 10/13: 8pm: The American String Quartet, celebrates their 45th anniversary year with this one-of-a-kind collaborative performance. American String Quartet will perform a work by film composer Paul Cantelon built around Salman Rushdie’s novel The Enchantress of Florence, with the author himself reading excerpts from the book between movements. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Westchester Philharmonic Gala Opener! Jaime Laredo conducts All-orchestral Gala Opener, Performing Arts Center, Sun, 10/21: 3pm: Jaime Laredo conducts the Westchester Phil in a program of Ravel, Haydn and Brahms. Including: Ravel’s sublime Pavane for a dead infant; Drumroll, one of Haydn’s final three symphonies, known for it’s mysterious timpani roll, that shows the composer at his very peak, and Brahms’ towering First Symphony that took 22 years to compose. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.westchesterphil.org)

REBEL Baroque, Musica Antiqua Nova, A Salon Night in Paris, Bedford, Sat, 10/27: 4pm: REBEL Baroque, one of the most aired period ensembles in America, and the incomparable Matthias Maute (flute) perform a program for Philidor, Mondonville, Couperin, Vivaldi and Telemann. The Boston Globe called REBEL Baroque “a state of the art early music ensemble.” (Bedford Presbyterian Church, 44 Village Green, Bedford; www.rebelbaroque.com/nova)

Free! The Chappaqua Orchestra, Brahms Sextets Concert Series, ChappPac, Sat, 10/27 & 11/10: 3pm: TCO Chamber Players perform two educational concerts focusing on each of the Brahms Sextets for Strings Op 18 & 36. The concert will feature educational commentary throughout with Q & A. (Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, 480 Bedford Rd., Chappaqua; www.chappaquaorchestra.org)

Evnin Rising Stars, Pamela Frank Artistic Director, Caramoor – Sat, 10/27: 8pm & Sun, 10-/28: 3pm:Distinguished artists Pamela Frank (violin), Timothy Eddy (cello) and Gilbert Kalish (piano) mentor and perform with a new generation of classical musicians. Saturday’s program features works by Haydn, Mendelssohn & Shostokovich. Sunday’s show features works by Haydn, Mozart & Faure. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)

November

Local! Pastry Alert! Ars-Antiqua Chamber Orchestra, Sebastian in Thuringer Wald: Young Bach at the Wellspring of Genius, Ars-Antiqua Chamber Orchestra, Chappaqua, Sat, 11/3: 8pm: Heather Johnson (Mezzo-soprano) joins Mark Kramer and his Ars Antiqua Chamber Orchestra in this celebration of the young Bach. Kramer’s orchestra performs on period instruments and theme appropriate desserts from Susan Lawrence Gourmet Foods follow each recital. (St. Mary the Virgin Church, 191 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua: www.ars-antiqua.org)

Julia Bullock (soprano) and John Arida (piano), Caramoor, Sun, 11/4: 3pm: Praised as a “fast-rising soprano” by The New York Times, Julia Bullock was mentored at Caramoor in their Schwab Vocal Rising Star program. This is her return performance since 2013 when she was in Caramoor’s mentoring program. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)

Omer Quartet, Caramoor, Sun, 11/11: 3pm: Caramoor’s 2018-19 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-In-Residence performs works by Haydn, Debussy, Beethoven and Chris Rogerson in their first concert in the Rosen House. Omer was a top prize winner at the 2017 Young Concert Artist International Auditions and the Premio Paolo Borciani Competition in Italy. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)

Bedford Chamber Concerts, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Wed, 11/7: 8pm: Dr. Anthony Newman’s Bedford Chamber Concerts perform Beethoven’s The Ghost, Mozart’s Sonata in D for piano 4 hands, Haydn’s Harpsichord Concerto in D major and Highlights from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. Dr. Newman was described by Time magazine as “The High Priest of the Harpsichord”. Wynton Marsalis called him “The High Priest of Bach.” Just $40 to see this world renowned musician. (St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 382 Cantitoe St., Bedford; www.bedfordchamberconcerts.org)

Killer program! Dmitri Levkovich, Studies in Virtuosity, South Salem, Sun, 11/11: 4pm: Pianist Dmitri Levkovich returns to South Salem to open the Sanctuary Series 2018-19 season. The program includes Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Beethoven’s Pathetique (only the hits) Liszt-Horowitz’s Hungarian Rhapsody No.2, Anthony Newman’s Poco Adagio and Twelve Etudes from Frederic Chopin. Levkovich has performed on the world’s biggest stages including Carnegie Hall and Beijing’s National Center. (S. Salem Presbyterian Church, 111 Spring St., S. Salem; www.thesanctuaryseries.org)

Westchester Oratorio Society, Mostly Bach, S. Salem; Sat, 11/17: 7:30pm: The Westchester Oratorio Society’s, conducted by WOS Artistic Director Benjamin Niemczyk, fall concert features three Cantatas and a Motet by JS Bach and Brahms’s Geistliches Lied. Niemczyk has performed with Anthony Newman, Hélène Grimaud and Ennio Morricone at Radio City Music Hall (S. Salem Presbyterian Church, 111 Spring St., S. Salem; www.westchesteroratorio.org)

December

CMS of Lincoln Center: Windstorm, Performing Arts Center, Sat, 12/1: 5pm: An exceptional lineup of CMS wind players and piano tackles a demanding and rewarding repertoire that celebrates the unsurpassable sonic array of a wind quintet. Including works from Mozart, Reicha, Thuille and Aaron Copland’s “New England Countryside” from The City arranged for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra/Steven Isserlis, Performing Arts Center, Sat 12/8: 5pm: Acclaimed British cellist, Steven Isserlis joins three-time Grammy-winner Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for a program of ROTT, C.P.E. Bach and Schubert’s “Death of a Maiden” arranged by Gustav Mahler. Isserlis is recognized for his command of phrasing and distinctive sound created by using gut strings. Orpheus is renowned as the orchestra without a conductor. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Local! Four Seasons Alert! Bedford Chamber Concerts, Vivaldi, Wed, 12/12: 8pm: Dr. Anthony Newman’s Bedford Chamber Concerts perform Vivaldi’s Double Concerto, Triple Concerto and The Four Seasons. Dr. Newman was described by Time magazine as “The High Priest of the Harpsichord”. Wynton Marsalis called him “The High Priest of Bach.” Just $40 to see this world-renowned musician. (St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 382 Cantitoe St., Bedford; www.bedfordchamberconcerts.org)