By Roy Ziegler
James Wilson
On Sunday, November 19 at 3 PM the Concordia Chamber Players will open its tenth season in New Hope. The group was founded by its artistic director, Michelle Djokic, associate principal cellist of the San Francisco Symphony. “We are excited about opening our tenth season, “said Djokic. “We will continue our tradition of presenting world respected chamber musicians in memorable performances of works spanning three hundred years,” she added.
Making his debut with Concordia this year is cellist, James Wilson, artistic director of the Richmond Festival of Music and currently, Artist-in Residence at the University of Michigan. He has recently led master classes in Hong Kong, Toronto, Los Angeles and Mexico City. Wilson will be joined by popular clarinetist, Todd Palmer, Mark Goldberg, Bassoonist, Daniel Panner, violist and a long-time favorite of Concordia audiences, violinist, Carmit Zori.
Sunday’s concert will feature the Quartet K370 for Oboe and Strings by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, described by musicologist Roger Hellyer, as pervaded by “an aura of gentle intimacy.” The seldom-heard Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet by Arthur Bliss has been ranked with Mozart and Brahms in its success with this unusual combination of musical instruments. Clarinetist Todd Palmer, will be featured in this selection. The afternoon concert will conclude with Boshuslav Martinu’s intriguing Four Madrigals for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon.
The concert will be performed in the Stephen Buck Theater at the New Hope-Solebury High School on 180 West Bridge Street in New Hope. Admission is $25 and children under the age of twelve years accompanied by a paying adult are admitted free. For additional information contact the Concordia Chamber Players at 215-299-5972.