"A Night in Old Vienna"
8 p.m., Friday, April 20, 2012
Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
Tickets: $35

Music from three of the greatest composers of all time - Mozart, Schubert, and Beethoven - will be presented in concert by pianist Orin Grossman and Quartetto Cornetto in "A Night in Old Vienna," at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2012, at Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts. Joining Mr. Grossman will be Netta Hadari on violin and Matt Beckmann on cello. Tickets are $35.

"A Night in Old Vienna" consists of "Sonatina for Violin and Piano" by Franz Schubert (1797-1828), "Violin Sonata in E" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , (1756-1791), and "Archduke Trio" by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). The composers of these works were three musical giants who each had associations with Vienna, Austria. Schubert was born there, and Mozart and Beethoven would both move there to live and prosper. "The concert features chamber music by three of the greatest masters from the historic capital city of the Hapsburg Empire," said Mr. Grossman. "The evening will recreate the experience of enjoying music intended to be performed in private homes by either professional musicians or gifted amateurs, with sonatas by Schubert and Mozart, and Beethoven's monumental and powerful Piano Trio."

Beethoven's "Archduke Trio" ranks at the top of Beethoven's chamber music in both popularity and accomplishment and is considered his greatest "Trio." It was written in 1810 and 1811 and comes from the same period when he composed his seventh and eighth symphonies, showing a similar breadth of feeling and spirit. "The 'Archduke Trio' is notable for its blend of virtuoso writing for all instruments, melodic beauty, profound spiritual feeling, and broad rustic humor," explained Mr. Grossman. "The dance-like quality of both the second and fourth movements surround a slow movement of remarkable spiritual quality, a theme and variations movement whose gentle yet deep feeling reflects Beethoven's extraordinary ability to transmute the strongest emotions into beautiful musical communication. The sudden explosion of the rustic and humorous finale is one of the great surprises in Beethoven's music."

Schubert's "Sonatina for Violin and Piano," which will open the concert, was discovered among his compositions and published after his death at 31. Most of Schubert's music was known only among his friends and fellow musicians during his lifetime. This piece was certainly heard in the private musical evenings he often organized and participated in, and it is now among his most popular chamber pieces.

Mozart's "Violin Sonata in E" is a surprisingly powerful and dramatic work from the 22-year-old Mozart, written during a journey to Paris. Unlike the more light-hearted "Sonatina" by Schubert, this Sonata explores a wider and more dramatic emotional range.

Pianist Orin Grossman has been performing and teaching at Fairfield University for almost thirty-five years. He has been particularly associated with the music of George Gershwin, lecturing and performing concerts of his song transcriptions and classical pieces to critical praise around the world, including recent performances in Cairo, New York, Florence, and St. Petersburg, Russia, where he performed Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" and gave the Russian premiere of Gershwin's "Second Rhapsody" with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. He has performed chamber music recitals across the country. After many years as Academic Vice President at Fairfield University, he returned to the faculty and is now Professor of Visual and Performing Arts.

Netta Hadari was born in London to Israeli parents and moved to Cape Town to finish high school. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music from Southern Methodist University and Yale University respectively and has had solo engagements all over the world. Mr. Hadari teaches at his private violin studio in Fairfield and is the conductor of the Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra. He is also the part-time development director of Music Haven, a non-profit organization that builds community around a professional string quartet in the underserved communities of New Haven. Matt Beckmann has performed contemporary as well as classical music in such varied venues as Carnegie Hall and Joe's Pub. A graduate of the New England Conservatory, he was a member of the Conservatory's Contemporary Ensemble and worked closely with such composers as Steve Reich, John Harbison, and Elliot Carter. He has performed chamber music with many organizations and is now the cellist of the Haven String Quartet in residence at Music Haven in New Haven.

Tickets are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at http://www.fairfield.edu/quick .

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Entrance to the Quick Center is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available throughout the Quick Center for audience members and performers. Hearing amplification devices are available upon request at the Box Office. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit http://www.fairfield.edu/quick .

Posted On: 04-01-2012 11:04 AM

Volume: 44 Number: 246