Music Mountain Presents Shanghai String Quartet

Celebrate an early 4th of July at Music Mountain, America's longest running summer chamber music festival! The 89th season continues with the music of Beethoven as the Shanghai Quartet performs Beethoven Quartet Cycle Program #4 on Sunday, July 1 (3pm). The festivities begin on Saturday, June 30 (6:30pm) with Michael Berkeley in a salute to the great Broadway and movie tunes that celebrate America! Concerts are scheduled through September 23.

In this spectacular summer event, the Shanghai Quartet comes to Music Mountain for six weekends to perform the complete Beethoven Quartet Cycle, considered by many as the ultimate challenge for a string quartet.

On Sunday afternoon, the Shanghai Quartet performs Beethoven Quartet Cycle Program #4: String Quartet in E Flat Major, Op. 74 "Harp" --- British composer and writer Robert Simpson praised the coda of the first movement: "the four instruments sound as if the whole world is singing." Program will also feature String Quartet in A Major, Op. 18 #5; and String Quartet in E Minor, Op. 59 #2. Beethoven historian, Wilhem von Lenz wrote in 1853 that the second movement of Opus 59 #2 is "a vision of Paradise where mortal love finds eternal happiness." An afternoon not to be missed!

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.

Spend Saturday evening with Michael Berkeley, No Tune Like a Show Tune: Celebrating America! In honor of the 4th of July, join the multi-talented performers Michael Berkeley, Wanda Houston, Maria Hickey, Amy LeBlanc and Frank Fasano as they serve up a patriotic vocal songfest in a musical tribute to the USA. With Michael Berkeley at the piano, it is a heartfelt, patriotic homage to this great country featuring Irving Berlin, George Cohan, George Gershwin, and a myriad of great show tunes and popular American standards. You won't want to miss this dynamic group of talented musicians singing their hearts out as they embrace the love, humor, sentimentality and majesty of America the beautiful! Michael Berkeley served as Artistic Director at the TriArts Sharon Playhouse for almost two decades. Additionally, Mr. Berkeley has directed and arranged shows for theatres around the country and spent many years as an Equity actor, having appeared on stages across the country.

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series features pre-concert dinners at the charming Falls Village Inn. Experience a piece of history built over 175 years ago that helped shape the history of Falls Village.

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 Quartet continues the Beethoven Quartet Cycle on Sunday, July 8. The music continues with Escher String Quartet with 2017 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Yekwon Sunwoo, piano (July 15); Penderecki String Quartet with Victoria Schwartzman, piano (July 22); and Harlem String Quartet with Fei-Fei Dong, piano (July 29).

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series continues with Jive By Five (July 7); Helen Sung Quartet (July 14); Peter & Will Anderson Quartet (July 21); and Swingtime Big Band (July 28).

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.

Specially Priced Concerts include: Labor Day Benefit Concert & Reception on Sunday, September 2. All tickets $75. Special Concert & Wine Reception to Celebrate the Completion of the Beethoven Quartet Cycle on Sunday, September 9. All tickets: $60.

Regularly scheduled Chamber Music Concerts are $35. Twilight Series Concerts are $30. Concert & Dinner Passes are available for all Twilight Series Concerts for $70; includes Pre-Concert Dinner (5pm) at The Falls Village Inn, a Litchfield County landmark - Classic American comfort fare, seasonal - and 6:30pm Twilight Concert at Music Mountain. Dinner reservations must be made no later than the Friday prior to concert date by calling the Music Mountain box office at 860-824-7126.

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. 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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