Emerson, Juilliard, Orion, Serkin & More Kick Off MUSIC MOUNTAIN's 85th Anniversary Season Today

Concert aficionados from around the country will want to mark their calendars for Music Mountain, America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, when it kicks off its gala 85th Anniversary Season beginning Saturday, June 7th! To commemorate the milestone, Music Mountain will continue their season past Labor Day - making the 85th Anniversary Season the longest running season since the 1930s! The summer will include returning chamber ensembles, first time guests and the ever-popular Saturday Evening Twilight Series featuring Jazz, Country, and Folk Music. Concerts are scheduled through September 14.

"85 seasons is a very special landmark in the life of a musical organization," enthuses Music Mountain President, Nicholas Gordon. "We want all of our audience to share this special year with us and the unusual and brilliant array of artists we have recruited to help celebrate 85 wonderful years as America's only summer chamber music festival devoted to the teaching and performing of the string quartet literature."

The season kicks off on June 7th (6:30PM) with the Opening Concert & Gala featuring the Emerson String Quartet performing Haydn: Quartet in G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3, Mendelssohn: Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80, and Schubert: Quartet D Minor, "Death and the Maiden." The summer season continues with the finest chamber musicians and string quartets playing several pieces at Music Mountain for the first time, including Juilliard String Quartet, Enso String Quartet, Arianna String Quartet, Dover String Quartet, Orion String Quartet, Harlem String Quartet, Penderecki String Quartet, St. Petersburg String Quartet, Blair String Quartet, Shanghai String Quartet, and Cassatt String Quartet. Guest artists are set to include Soyeon Kate Lee, piano; Daniel Panner, viola; Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Nicholas Canellakis, cello; Michael Brown, piano; Miranda Cuckson, violin; Jonathan Yates, piano; Peter Serkin, piano; Misha Dichter, piano; Geoffrey Burleson, piano; Ricardo Cavalcante de Oliveira, viola; Michelle LaCourse, viola; Rhonda Rider, cello; Melvin Chen, piano; Haochen Zhang, piano; Roberto Diaz, viola; and Ursula Oppens, piano.

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series begins on June 14 (6:30PM) with The West Point Alumni Glee Club. Evening concerts continue with New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (and the first of several pre-concert dinners, June 21); Jive By Five (June 28); The Sharon Playhouse (July 5); Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks (July 12); Gunsmoke (July 19); Swingtime Big Band (July 26); The New Black Eagle Jazz Band (August 2); The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (August 9); The Galvanized Jazz Band (August 16); Baroque Italian Opera Arias & Duets (August 23); and Michael Berkeley (September 6). This year, the twilight series will broaden its variety of musical offerings to include folk music, opera and the golden age of Broadway. A special concert of Old Time Country Music by Tater Patch, whose bass player Richard Gordon is a grandson of Jacques Gordon, Music Mountain's Founder, and the only descendant of the Founder ever to appear at Music Mountain, will also be presented as the final Twilight concert on September 13.

Music Mountain's 85th Anniversary Season will also include their annual Teaching Program -- bringing master teachers and aspiring young musicians together. Artistic Director of The Next Festival of Emerging Artists at Music Mountain, composer, conductor, and bassist, Peter Askim will teach a series of master classes Sunday, June 8 through Saturday, June 14. "America's leading oboe recitalist," Humbert Lucarelli returns to Music Mountain for his master Oboe Seminar Sunday, July 20 through Friday, July 25. Returning for the second year, Carol Kastendieck, faculty member at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, will teach an actors vocal training program in August.

Music Mountain is located in Falls Village, Connecticut on Music Mountain Road, where a short scenic drive will bring you to Gordon Hall atop Music Mountain. Free parking and picnic facilities are available. Food, wine & beer are also available for purchase.

Tickets for the Season Opening Concert & Reception on Saturday, June 7 and End of Season Benefit Concert & Reception on Sunday, August 31 are $75 and include a voucher for one regularly priced concert. Two special mid-summer benefit concerts on Sunday, June 22 with the Juilliard String Quartet and on Sunday, July 20 with Peter Serkin and the Orion String Quartet are $60 per ticket. Pre-concert dinners are $60 and include concert ticket. Chamber Music Concerts are $35 at the door/$30 in advance. Twilight Series Concerts are $30 at the door/$27 in advance. Children ages 5-18 are admitted FREE for ALL CONCERTS when accompanied by a ticket holder (Music Mountain gratefully acknowledges children admission support by the Hellen Plummer Foundation for a gift in memory of James Merrill, Connecticut's first Poet Laureate). Saturday Twilight Concerts are at 6:30pm. Chamber Music concerts are at 3pm on Sundays. Group rates and pre season ticket vouchers are available. Discounts apply through participating organizations. For a complete summer schedule, special ticket prices, and to download a ticket order form visit www.musicmountain.org or call 860-824-7126.

2014 CHAMBER MUSIC SCHEDULE

(subject to change)

SATURDAY JUNE 7, 6:30PM

85TH ANNIVERSARY OPENING CONCERT & GALA

All Tickets: $75

(Includes a Benefit Voucher for any regularly priced 2014 Music Mountain concert)

Emerson String Quartet

(Underwritten by an Anonymous Donor)

Haydn: Quartet in G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3 (1772)

Mendelssohn: Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80 (1847)

Schubert: Quartet D Minor, "Death and the Maiden" (1824)

*6pm wine-fest for all ticket holders

SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 3PM

Enso String Quartet

Soyeon Kate Lee, Piano

Pucinni: Chrystemums (1890)

Ravel: String Quartet in F Major (1903)

Mozart: Piano Quartet in E Flat Major, K. 493 (1786)

*pre-concert discussion & informal reception with Music Mountain president, Nicholas Gordon

SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 3PM

Juilliard String Quartet

All Tickets: $60

(Underwritten by an Anonymous Donor)

Bach: Contrapunctus I-IV from Art of the Fugue (1742-1750)

Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)

Beethoven: String Quartet in C Major, Opus 59#3 (1806)

SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 3PM

Arianna String Quartet

Daniel Panner, Viola

Beethoven: String Quartet in C Minor, Opus 18 # 4 (1798-1800)

Shostakovich: String Quartet # 3 in F Major, Opus 73 (1946)

Brahms: Viola Quintet in F Major, Opus 88 (1882)

*post-concert discussion & informal reception with Music Mountain president, Nicholas Gordon

SUNDAY, JULY 6, 3PM

Alexander Fiterstein, Clarinet

Nicholas Canellakis, Cello

Michael Brown, Piano

Miranda Cuckson, Violin

Beethoven: Trio for Clarinet, Cello & Piano in B Flat Major, Opus 11 (1796)

Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time (Quatour pour la Fin du Temps) (1940)

*pre-concert discussion of Messiaen

SUNDAY, JULY 13, 3PM

Dover String Quartet

Jonathan Yates, Piano

Beethoven: String Quartet in D Major, Opus 18 # 3 (1798-1800)

Viktor Ullman: Quartet # 3 (1943)

Mozart: Piano Quartet in G Minor, K. 478 (1785)

SUNDAY, JULY 20, 3PM

The Orion String Quartet

Peter Serkin, Piano

All Tickets: $60

(Underwritten by an Anonymous Donor)

Haydn: String Quartet in D Major, Opus 76 # 5 (1796-1797)

Brahms: Quintet for Piano & Strings in F Minor, Opus 34 (1864)

Dvorak: Quintet for Piano & Strings in A Major, Opus 81 (1887)

SUNDAY, JULY 27, 3PM

Harlem String Quartet

Misha Dichter, Piano

Mozart: String Quartet in E Flat Major, K.428 (1783)

Chick Corea: Adventures of Hippocrates (2004)

Schumann: Piano Quintet (1842)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 3PM

Penderecki String Quartet

Geoffrey Burleson, Piano

Mozart: Quartet in B Flat Major, K. 158 (1772-3)

Faure: Piano Quintet: # 1 in D Minor, Opus 89 (1906)

Schubert: String Quartet in G Major, Opus 161, D. 887 (1826)

*post-concert discussion & informal reception with Music Mountain president Nicholas Gordon

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 3PM

St. Petersburg String Quartet

Ricardo Cavalcante de Oliveira, Viola

Bartok: Romanian Dances, BB 68 (1915)

Borodin: String Quartet # 2 in D Major (1881)

Dvorak: Viola Quintet in E Flat Major, Opus 97 (1893)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 3PM

St. Petersburg String Quartet

Michelle LaCourse, Viola

Rhonda Rider, Cello

Shostakovich: Adagio &Allegretto (Elegy & Polka) (1931)

Brahms: String Sextet in B Flat Major, Opus 18 (1860)

Brahms: String Sextet in G Major, Opus 36. (1864)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 3PM

Blair String Quartet

Melvin Chen, Piano

Haydn: String Quartet in G Major, Opus 77# 1 (1799)

Mendelssohn: String Quartet in D Major, Opus 44 #1 (1838)

Bloch: Piano Quintet # 1 (1923)

*post-concert discussion & reception with Music Mountain president Nicholas Gordon

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 6:30PM

Shanghai String Quartet

Beethoven: String Quartet in A Major, Opus 18 #5 (1798-1800)

Verdi: String Quartet in E Minor (1872)

Beethoven: String Quartet in F Major, Opus 18 #1 (1798-1800)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 3PM

End of Season Benefit Concert & Reception

All Tickets: $75

(Includes a Benefit Voucher for a Regularly Priced 2014 or 2015 Music Mountain Concert)

Shanghai String Quartet

Haochen Zhang, Piano

Haochen Zhang Plays His Favorites

Beethoven: String Quartet in F Major, Opus 135 (1826)

Brahms: Piano Quartet in G Minor, Opus 25 (1856-1857)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 3PM

Dover String Quartet

Roberto Diaz, Viola

Haydn: String Quartet in G Major Opus 76 # 1 (1796-1797)

Shostakovich: String Quartet# 7 in F Sharp Minor, Opus 108 (1960)

Brahms: Viola Quintet in G Major, Opus 111 (1890)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 3PM

Cassatt String Quartet

Ursula Oppens, Piano

Beethoven: String Quartet in G Major, Opus 18 # 2 (1798-1800)

Dvorak: String Quartet in F Major, Opus 96 "American" (1893)

Franck: Piano Quintet in F Minor (1878-1879)

2014 TWILIGHT SERIES SCHEDULE

(subject to change)

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 6:30PM

The West Point Alumni Glee Club

"No Fun Without Music, No Music Without Fun"

Come hear this great glee club of 30 West Point Graduates - from Lieutenant to General - celebrate the 237th Flag Day and the 239th Birthday of the US Army. Opening with the Star Spangled Banner and including World War II favorites and songs of inspiration, patriotism and just plain fun! An inspiring one-of-a kind event!

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 6:30PM

New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players

Giving Vitality to the Living Legend

(Underwritten by an Anonymous Donor)

The Wandr'ing Ministrels and The Mikado

Five of NYGASP's top singers perform a condensed version of this

Gilbert & Sullivan classic with costumes, props and staging followed by an elegant concert of favorite G&S scenes and songs, including audience requests from the G&S repertoire performed impromptu.

Pre-Concert Victorian Dinner at The Falls Village Inn

(Limited to 70)

Dinner (5pm) & Concert (6:30PM): $60

Concert Only: $30 at the door. $27 in Advance

Must Reserve for Dinner by Friday, June 20

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 6:30PM

Jive by Five, With Dancing

This Connecticut favorite returns with the Sizzling Dance Music of the Jazz Age. From the Charleston to the Two-Step & the Fox Trot - the wild rhythms of the 1920's for your listening & dancing pleasure!

SATURDAY, JULY 5. 6:30PM

Broadway at Music Mountain!

The Sharon Playhouse celebrates Independence Day with an evening of George M. Cohan!

Known as "the man who owned Broadway," George M. Cohan wrote, composed, produced, and appeared in dozens of Broadway musicals. Join the talented singers and musicians from the Sharon Playhouse in a celebration of Independence Day. Bring the entire family for a tribute to America and one of its most treasured artists!

Pre-Concert Musical Comedy Dinner at the Falls Village Inn

(Limited to 70)

Dinner (5pm) & Concert (6:30PM): $60

Concert Only: $30 at the door. $27 in Advance

Must Reserve for Dinner by Friday, July 4

SATURDAY, JULY 12, 6:30PM

Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks

(Underwritten by Norman Fields)

"The Finest of the Big Bands"

The Grammy Award Winning Musical Stars of Boardwalk Empire, Innumerable Movie Soundtracks and Jazz at Lincoln Center perform the best of Big Band!

"An erupting wellspring of Euphoria: That would describe the Vintage swing emanating from Vince Giordano And the Nighthawks"... NY Times

Pre-Concert Prohibition Dinner at the Falls Village Inn

(Limited to 70)

Dinner (5pm) & Concert (6:30PM): $60

Concert Only: $30 at the door. $27 in Advance

Must Reserve for Dinner by Friday, July 11

SATURDAY, JULY 19, 6:30PM

Gunsmoke, with Dancing

America's Music. Classic Country, Rockabilly, Western Swing all in one lively and danceable package!

SATURDAY, JULY 19, 6:30PM

Gunsmoke, with Dancing

America's Music. Classic Country, Rockabilly, Western Swing all in one lively and danceable package!

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 6:30PM

Swingtime Big Band, with Dancing

Music of the Swing and Big Band Era.

Seventh Annual Appearance at Music Mountain!

Pre-Concert Swingin' Dinner at the Falls Village Inn

(Limited to 70)

Dinner (5pm) & Concert (6:30PM): $60

Concert Only: $30 at the door. $27 in Advance

Must Reserve for Dinner by Friday, July 25

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 6:30PM

The New Black Eagle Jazz Band, with Dancing

Since 1971 they have played the best of the uplifting and soulful New Orleans sound from the 1920's & 1930's.

"So far ahead of other traditional bands...there is scarcely any basis for comparison..."NY Times

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 6:30PM

The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival presents an Evening atMusic Mountain, with Dancing

The Northeast's leading Folk Festival, now in its 26th year, debuts at Music Mountain presenting festival fave Spuyten Duyvil, a mighty 7-piece powerhouse of soaring vocals & traditional jug band energy. Join us for a barn-burning romp through the last 100 years of American Roots music.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 6:30PM

The Galvanized Jazz Band, with Dancing

Dynamic, energetic performers of Hot Dixieland, New Orleans Jazz, Blues,

Rags, Stomps, Struts, Spirituals, Swing & Popular Classics.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 6:30PM

Baroque Italian Opera Arias and Duets

Nicoholas Tamagna, Countertenor

Sarah Moulton, Soprano

Christine Gevert, Harpsichord

A selection of some of the greatest love duets of the times, including Pur ti miro and Io t'abbraccio from Handel'sRodelinda, as well as duets from operas by J.A. Hasse and A. Scarlatti.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 6:30PM

Michael Berkeley Presents A Musical Revue:

"NO TUNE LIKE A SHOW TUNE"

Celebrate the Golden Age of Broadway with Michael Berkeley & Friends in the acoustically perfect MusicMountain Concert Hall. Thrill to your favorite show tunes in this nostalgic and fast-paced musical revue!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 6:30PM

Tater Patch

Twin fiddles, banjo, traditional American songs and tunes - and the grandson of Music Mountain's founder, Jacques Gordon, playing bass fiddle!

Pictured: Emerson String Quartet: Eugene Drucker, violin; Philip Setzer, violin, Lawrence Dutton, viola; Paul Watkins, cello. Photo by Lisa Mazzucco.

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