MARLBORO-Under the artistic direction of Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss, Marlboro Music's 74th summer season opens on Saturday, July 19 (8 p.m.), and Sunday, July 20 (2:30 p.m.) with the first two concerts of the season and free, open rehearsals throughout the week in Persons Auditorium, 2472 South Rd. Weekend performances and rehearsals continue for five weeks, through Sunday, Aug. 17.
Marlboro Music has, for more than seven decades, attracted concert artists and aspiring musical leaders from around the world to its southern Vermont campus.
Participants spend seven weeks exploring and exchanging ideas on approximately 250 chamber music works from all eras involving a variety of instrumental and vocal combinations that the musicians themselves have proposed to study. "Only after a group has rehearsed for several weeks, and the artists feel they have achieved especially successful results, is a piece recommended for performance," organizers wrote in a news release.
From among the more than 70 pieces currently being explored, Marlboro artists have prepared six works to share with audiences. Each performing ensemble includes a combination of senior and emerging artists, "resulting in a freshness of ideas and a unique meeting of perspectives," wrote organizers.
Saturday evening's concert begins with Haydn's String Quartet in G major, Op. 33, No. 5, Hob. III:41; performed by former Mendelssohn Quartet cellist Marcy Rosen and three young string players.
Throughout the weekend, audiences will hear Marlboro's woodwinds, including senior artists Mary Lynch VanderKolk (principal oboe of the Seattle Symphony), Sang Yoon Kim (principal clarinet of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra), and Natalya Rose Vrbsky (Buffalo Philharmonic), in Mozart's Serenade in C minor, K. 388 and Beethoven's Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, Op. 16, with pianist Amir Ron.
Marlboro's vocal program also features on both programs, with pianist Lydia Brown and four emerging singers presenting songs by Franz Schubert and Frank Bridge, the latter with violist Njord Fossnes. Jack Quartet cellist Jay Campbell will also be heard on Sunday's program, performing Schoenberg's String Trio, Op. 45, with violinist Anatol Toth and violist Brian Isaacs.
Schedules for open rehearsals are announced at the beginning of each week and include many of the works that will be performed on the following weekend's concert programs. Admission to the rehearsals is free, and no tickets or advance signup is needed. Note that rehearsal schedules are subject to change.
Limited seating is available for Saturday evening's concert. Tickets are $20–$40 and may be purchased at marlboromusic.org or by calling the Marlboro box office at 802-258-9331. Sunday's performance is sold out; a waiting list is maintained for returned tickets. Audience members may contact the Marlboro reception desk for more information at 802-254-2394 or [email protected].
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.