Music Mountain Opens 89th Season

Music Mountain, America's longest running summer chamber music festival kicks off its 89th Season on Sunday, June 10th with the beginning of an extremely rare summer event - the Complete Beethoven String Quartet Cycle! The Shanghai String Quartet performs Beethoven Quartet Cycle Program #1 as part of the Opening Concert & Reception! The Chamber Music Series will feature Music Mountain premieres and welcome first time guests and returning favorites! The popular Saturday Evening Twilight Series launches on June 16th with an array of jazz ensembles! "This is a one-of-a-kind season," stated Oskar Espina-Ruiz, Music Mountain Artistic Director. Concerts are scheduled through September 23rd.

For the inaugural chamber music concert, the outstanding Shanghai String Quartet performs Beethoven Quartet Cycle Program #1: String Quartet in E Flat Major, Op. 127; String Quartet in G Major, Op. 18 #2; and String Quartet in C Major, Op. 59 #3.

The technical and emotional scope of the Beethoven Cycle makes it the ultimate challenge for a string quartet. Described as challenging, intimate and graceful, and tumultuous, the Cycle includes some of the greatest works in Beethoven's entire output.

Renowned for its passionate musicality, impressive technique and multicultural innovations, the Shanghai Quartet has become one of the world's foremost chamber ensembles. Its elegant style melds the delicacy of Eastern music with the emotional breadth of Western repertoire, allowing it to traverse musical genres including traditional Chinese folk music, masterpieces of Western music and cutting-edge contemporary works. Formed at the Shanghai Conservatory in 1983, the Quartet has worked with the world's most distinguished artists and regularly tours the major music centers of Europe, North America and Asia. The Quartet has a long history of championing new music and juxtaposing traditions of Eastern and Western music.

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. Music Mountain is supported, in part, by the Connecticut Commission On Culture & Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Shanghai String Quartet continues the Beethoven Quartet Cycle on Sunday, June 17; Sunday, June 24; and Sunday, July 1. Concerts begin at 3PM.

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series beings on Saturday, June 16 with Ted Nash Quartet. The season continues with The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (June 23); Michael Berkeley (June 30); and Jive By Five (July 7).

Tickets for the 89th Season Opening Concert & Reception featuring Shanghai String Quartet on Sunday, June 10 (3PM) are $75. Specially Priced Concerts are as Follows: Tickets for the Labor Day Benefit Concert & Reception on Sunday, September 2 (3PM) with Peter Serkin, Piano, Amy Cassiere, Oboe, Caitlin Beare, Clarinet, Shannon Hagan, Horn, and Adam Romey, Bassoon, are $75. Tickets for the final Beethoven Quartet Cycle and Wine Reception on Sunday, September 9 (3PM) are $60.

Specially Priced Packages include: the Music Mountain Gold Pass, including admission to all concerts and receptions with the artists, priority reserved seating and one $20 guest ticket available for any regularly priced concert, for $780 individual and $1,500 pair, transferable; and the Beethoven Cycle Package, including admission to all 6 concerts and 2 receptions with the artists of the Beethoven Cycle, for $225, individual, transferable; Ted Nash VIP Event Pass for June 16, Music Mountain Jazz Series Opening Night, including Green Room Meet & Greet with the artists at 5:30 pm; autographed copy of artist's latest album (CD and vinyl); bottle of wine of artist's own Two Notes label; and priority seating at the concert, $75, individual, transferable.

Regularly scheduled Chamber Music Concerts are $35. Twilight Series Concerts are $30. Children ages 5-18 are admitted FREE to ALL CONCERTS when accompanied by a ticket holder. Saturday evening Twilight Concerts are at 6:30 pm. Sunday afternoon Chamber Music concerts are at 3 pm. 4-Pak Pre-Season Ticket Plans are available for $100. Discounts apply through participating organizations. For a complete summer schedule, special ticket prices, and to download a ticket order form visit musicmountain.org or call 860-824-7126.

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