The Chamber Players of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra will return for two concerts on Sunday, Nov. 8 at St. Barnabas Church, and Monday, Nov. 9 at the Bruce Museum.
The concert is titled “Anniversaries,” celebrating various milestones in the lives of Mozart, Sibelius, Dvořák and Cowell. The Chamber Players will perform string quintets and quartets by each of these composers, one of them being Dvořák’s beloved “American” String Quintet. No 3 in E-flat major, Op. 97
Violist Vincent Lionti will be the guest artist for these concerts. He is a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, a position he has held since 1987. He holds bachelors and masters degrees from the Julliard School where he was Principal violist of each of the school’s three orchestras. At one time he was a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and he has served as Guest Principal violist for the Indianapolis, New Jersey and American Orchestras as well as the Santa Fé Opera. Mr. Lionti is the conductor of The Westchester County Youth Orchestra.
Henry Cowell (1897-1965) will probably be the least familiar composer on the program. He was a Californian. He titled his 1936 String Quartet No.4 “United” because it drew upon elements from radically different cultures. Cowell explained, “Its simplicity is drawn from the whole world, instead of from the European tradition or any single tradition.” He hoped his music would appeal to listeners from many different backgrounds.
Sunday’s concert is at 4 p.m. at St. Barnabas Church, 954 Lake Avenue. Monday’s concert will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Bruce Museum. Meet the musicians at the wine and cheese receptions at either concert.
Tickets are $30, students $5, at the door, preferably by cash or check or by reservation at greenwichsym.org/chamberplayers, or by calling 203-637-4725.
