Classical Cafe tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2008-09-30:/classical_cafe//800 2012-02-09T14:46:52Z Alan Sherrod serves up a big plate of nourishing commentary on the Knoxville classical music and fine arts scene. Movable Type 4.261 Saturday: Baldwin and Class, Cello and Piano Recital tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2012:/classical_cafe//800.146586 2012-02-09T14:31:03Z 2012-02-09T14:46:52Z As I've indicated in the past, some of best performances in Knoxville are absolutely free. I'm referring to the UT School of Music's guest artist and faculty recital series that occur throughout the year. One you probably shouldn't miss will... Alan Sherrod UT School of Music's guest artist and faculty recital series that occur throughout the year. One you probably shouldn't miss will take place this Saturday evening, February 11, featuring faculty performers Wesley Baldwin, cello, and Kevin Class, piano.

Their recital will feature:
Johann Sebastian Bach: Suite Nr. 4 in E flat Major, BWV 1010 
Joseph Haydn: Divertimento 
Antonín Dvořák: Silent Woods, Opus 68, No. 5,  and Rondo, Opus 94
Béla Bartók: First Rhapsody

This recital takes place in Performance Hall 32 in the Alumni Memorial Building at 8 pm. (Tip: enter the building on the bottom level nearest the football stadium)




]]> Weekend: 'Romeo et Juliette' from Knoxville Opera tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2012:/classical_cafe//800.146583 2012-02-08T15:49:22Z 2012-02-08T15:56:15Z Knoxville Opera continues its 2011-12 season this weekend with a production of Charles Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. Check out the spotlight in this week's issue for details.... Alan Sherrod Knoxville Opera continues its 2011-12 season this weekend with a production of Charles Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. Check out the spotlight in this week's issue for details.

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]]> Sunday: KSO Goes For Baroque at Bijou tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2012:/classical_cafe//800.146542 2012-01-26T13:05:00Z 2012-01-25T16:45:49Z Alan Sherrod The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra continues its Chamber Classics Series on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 29) with a concert of Baroque works from J.S. Bach, George Frideric Handel, Henry Purcell, and Antonio Vivaldi.

The KSO musicians comprising the various ensembles and soloists are Gordon Tsai, violin; Sean Claire, violin; Edward Pulgar, violin; Ilia Steinschneider, violin; Kathryn Gawne, viola, Eunsoon Lee-Corliss, viola; Andy Bryenton, cello; Ebonee Thomas, flute; Steve Benne, double bass continuo; and Carol Zinavage, harpsichord continuo. James Fellenbaum conducts.

Works on the program are:

•  Handel:  Concerto Grosso in B-flat Major, Op.6, No. 7
•  Bach:   Brandenberg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat Major, BWV 1051
•  Purcell:  Chacony in G Minor for Strings, Z. 790
•  Vivaldi: Concerto in B Minor for Four Violins, Cello, Strings, and Continuo Op. 3 No. 10
•  Bach:  Suite No. 2 in B Minor for Flute, Strings, and Continuo, BWV 1067

The KSO Chamber Classics Series concerts are in the Bijou Theatre at 2:30 p.m.

For program or ticket information: http://www.knoxvillesymphony.com


]]> Sunday: Pianist Eric Zuber in Maryville tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2012:/classical_cafe//800.146540 2012-01-24T22:16:50Z 2012-01-24T22:31:05Z The Evelyn Miller Young Pianist Series, currently housed at the Clayton Center in Maryville, opens on Sunday, January 29, with pianist Eric Zuber.Zuber received a Bachelor of Music degree and Artist Diploma from Peabody Conservatory of Music, a Diploma from... Alan Sherrod Eric Zuber.

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Zuber received a Bachelor of Music degree and Artist Diploma from Peabody Conservatory of Music, a Diploma from Curtis Institute of Music, and a Master of Music degree from The Julliard School.  He won Fourth Prize at the 2009 AXA Dublin Competition; Fourth Prize at the 2008 Seoul Competition; and First Prize at the 2007 Hilton Head Competition.

The recital is at 2:30 p.m. in the Lambert Recital Hall at the Clayton Center for the Arts on the Maryville College campus. Individual tickets (available at the door) are $15/$5 students. There is also a 3 recital series discount available. 
]]> Sunday: UT Faculty Chamber Music Series tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2012:/classical_cafe//800.146503 2012-01-12T14:01:00Z 2012-01-12T13:42:22Z The University of Tennessee School of Music opens the New Year with the second of three Faculty Chamber Music Series Concerts on Sunday afternoon at 4 pm. The free concerts this season take place in the Cox Auditorium in the... Alan Sherrod The University of Tennessee School of Music opens the New Year with the second of three Faculty Chamber Music Series Concerts on Sunday afternoon at 4 pm. The free concerts this season take place in the Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building on the UT campus.

On the concert:

Sonate for flute, viola and harp--Claude Debussy
Shelley Binder, flute 
Hillary Herndon, viola 
Cindy Hicks, harp

Pastorale for flute, horn, and piano--Eric Ewazen
Shelley Binder, flute 
Karl Kramer, horn 
Fay Adams, piano

Shaker Tunes for Brass Quintet--Gwyneth Walker
Sarah Chumney Fellenbaum and Emily Whildin, trumpets
Karl Kramer, horn 
Daniel Cloutier, trombone 
Sande MacMorran, tuba
]]> Also Sunday: KSO, MLK Celebration Concert tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2012:/classical_cafe//800.146504 2012-01-12T14:00:06Z 2012-01-12T14:05:36Z Alan Sherrod The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is offering its MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR CELEBRATION CONCERT on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 6:00 PM at the Bijou Theatre. The concert is free. The concert is sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission and B97.5.

The conductor for the concert will be James Fellenbaum, KSO resident conductor.
]]> Knoxville Opera Takes 'Romeo & Juliette' to Middle Schools tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2012:/classical_cafe//800.146497 2012-01-10T14:19:13Z 2012-01-10T14:36:36Z Alan Sherrod Today, 1,600 students at Halls and Whittle Springs middle schools are getting a taste of opera.

Knoxville Opera is presenting performances of Romeo & Juliette in 13 Knox County public middle schools between January 10 and 19. It is estimated that during this period 12,500 students will attend the performances. This is an abbreviated version in English of Gounod's 
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popular opera featuring tenor Stefan Barner and 
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soprano Anna Eschbach, recent graduates of the University of Tennessee Opera Theatre program. Brian Salesky, Knoxville Opera Executive Director and Conductor, will be narrating and directing all performances. The staged presentation, in costumes, is designed to fit into both school auditoriums and gymnasiums.
 
These performances are made possible at no cost to Knox County Schools, parents and students thanks to the generosity of the Tennessee Arts Commission, Knox County, City of Knoxville, Arts & Heritage Fund, Pilot Flying J, Regal Entertainment Group, Comcast, Robert H. & Monica M. Cole Foundation, First Tennessee Foundation, Swann Endowment Fund, Rotary Club of Knoxville, and National Endowment for the Arts. 

Gounod's Romeo & Juliette is the February offering of Knoxville Opera (Feb. 10 and 12) at the Tennessee Theatre featuring Noah Stewart and Zulimar López-Hernández as the ill-fated lovers.
]]> Met Opera Auditions: Middle/East Tenn District Winners tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2012:/classical_cafe//800.146495 2012-01-09T17:16:02Z 2012-01-09T17:22:40Z The Middle/East Tennessee district of the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions were held on Saturday, January 7, in Nashville with the following results:WinnersEdward Hanlon, bass-baritone, age 27Lauren K. Frey, soprano, age 24Linda C. Brimer, soprano, age 26, from KnoxvilleThese three... Alan Sherrod The Middle/East Tennessee district of the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions were held on Saturday, January 7, in Nashville with the following results:

Winners

Edward Hanlon, bass-baritone, age 27
Lauren K. Frey, soprano, age 24
Linda C. Brimer, soprano, age 26, from Knoxville

These three will compete in the Mid-South Regional Finals, Saturday, February 11, in the Germantown Performing Arts Centre.  

Encouragement Award

Johnathan Riesen, tenor, age 21.  
]]> Saturday in Oak Ridge: OR Symphony AND OR Civic Ballet tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2011:/classical_cafe//800.146440 2011-11-18T14:02:47Z 2011-11-18T14:24:17Z This Saturday is a big day for events if you live in Oak Ridge or don't mind the drive.------------------------The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association teams up with the UT Chamber Orchestra for a production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. The artistic... Alan Sherrod
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The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association teams up with the UT Chamber Orchestra for a production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. The artistic director is Molly Koon Quist with UT's James Fellenbaum as music director/conductor. Performances are Saturday evening, November 19th at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday afternoon, November 20th at 2:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. See their website for ticket information.

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The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra offers a concert at the Grove Performing Arts Theater (123 Randolph Rd in Oak Ridge) at 8 p.m. featuring--

Beethoven: Coriolan Overture
Delius: On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring and Summer Night on the River
Dan Forrest: In Paradisum for Choir and Orchestra
Behzad Ranjbaran: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra

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And noon-ish, but not in Oak Ridge, you can catch the Metropolitan Opera Live-in-HD broadcast of Philip Glass' Satyagraha at the Regal WestTown8 Cinemas in WestTown Mall--12:55 p.m.




]]> Nov. 14-20: The Week In Classical Music tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2011:/classical_cafe//800.146432 2011-11-14T18:31:02Z 2011-11-14T19:08:55Z Alan Sherrod
Monday, November 14
Knoxville  Symphony Orchestra Youth Orchestra Fall Concert
This concert will feature performances from all five orchestras in the Association: the Preludium, led by Erin Archer, the Philharmonia, led by Katie Hutchinson, Sinfonia, led by Association General Manager Kathy Hart-Reilly, Youth Chamber Orchestra, led by Wesley Baldwin and the Youth Orchestra, led by Music Director James Fellenbaum.
Tennessee Theatre, 7 p.m. FREE

Wednesday, November 16
String Chamber Music offered by a number of ensembles in the UT School of Music
Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Building, 6 p.m. FREE

Thursday and Friday, November 17 and 18
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Masterworks Concert featuring the Dvorak Cello Concerto (Zuill Bailey, cello); Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra; and Enesco's Romanian Rhapsody Op. 11 No. 1
Lucas Richman conducts.
Tennessee Theatre, 8 p.m. 

Saturday, November 19

•  Metropolitan Opera, Live in HD, Philip Glass' Satyagraha
Regal WestTown Mall Cinemas, 12:55 p.m.

•  Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker presented by University of Tennessee Chamber Orchestra and Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association. Visit www.orcba.org for ticket info.
Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center
1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge TN 37830
7:00 p.m.

•  Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra
Ludwig van Beethoven: Coriolan Overture
Frederick Delius: On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring and Summer Night on the River
Dan Forrest: In Paradisum for Choir and Orchestra
Behzad Ranjbaran: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Grove Performing Arts Theater, 123 Randolph Rd., 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 20
Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker (see Saturday evening)
Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center
1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge TN 37830
2:30 p.m.



]]> Weekend Pair: UT Opera Theatre Offers Menotti and Puccini tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2011:/classical_cafe//800.146428 2011-11-10T15:12:23Z 2011-11-10T15:22:24Z Alan Sherrod The Medium and Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica.

Complete information is available in this week's Metro Pulse calendar.

Friday, November 11, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 12, 2011, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Bijou Theatre, 803 South Gay Street, Knoxville TN
]]> Saturday: Knoxville Choral Society "Salute to America" tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2011:/classical_cafe//800.146422 2011-11-08T13:59:15Z 2011-11-08T14:10:50Z The Knoxville Choral Society offers up its Fall Concert on Saturday evening, November 12, with "Salute to America," a program of patriotic and Americana music.Along with patriotic favorites like "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Salute To... Alan Sherrod The Knoxville Choral Society offers up its Fall Concert on Saturday evening, November 12, with "Salute to America," a program of patriotic and Americana music.

Along with patriotic favorites like "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Salute To The Armed Forces," "Yankee Doodle," and "God Bless the USA" is a performance of Song of Democracy by Howard Hanson.

The Choral Society shares the stage with the East Tennessee Concert Band and the Knoxville Chamber Chorale.

Tennessee Theatre, Saturday, November 12, 8 p.m. 
Tickets are available at the door: $20 adults/$15 veterans/$12 students


]]> Sunday: Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2011:/classical_cafe//800.146408 2011-11-03T13:49:08Z 2011-11-03T14:27:16Z Mozart loved the city of Prague, and no wonder. As his position as Vienna's hottest thing began to wane, the music community of Prague continued to adore him. When the opera Le nozze de Figaro was met with wild acclaim... Alan Sherrod Le nozze de Figaro was met with wild acclaim in the Bohemian capital in the winter of 1786-87, Mozart claimed "My Prague people love me."

Mozart was in Prague to gain the commission for what would become Don Giovanni. To keep his appeal alive, he wrote his Symphony No. 38 in D Major for a performance there that January.

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The Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra begins its chamber season this Sunday with the Prague Symphony along with Mozart's Overture to Cosi Fan Tutte. Also on the bill are two works by Haydn, most notably the Concerto in D Major for Cello and Orchestra, HOB. VIIB:2 featuring KSO cellist Ildar Khuziakhmetov. Lucas Richman conducts.

Mozart: Overture to Cosi Fan Tutte
Haydn: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Hob. VIIb:2, D Major
Haydn: Overture: Il ritorno di Tobia
Mozart: Symphony No. 38, "Prague"



Sunday, November 6, 2:30 p.m.
Bijou Theatre 





]]> Friday: Opera Consort, "Diary of a Madman" tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2011:/classical_cafe//800.146402 2011-11-02T13:07:48Z 2011-11-02T13:29:23Z With coffee brewed and muffins stacked for the day, Classical Cafe found this notice slipped under our door a couple of weeks ago:"Opera Consort is Knoxville, TN's alternative classical music ensemble presenting avant garde and contemporary works of operatic literature... Alan Sherrod With coffee brewed and muffins stacked for the day, Classical Cafe found this notice slipped under our door a couple of weeks ago:

"Opera Consort is Knoxville, TN's alternative classical music ensemble presenting avant garde and contemporary works of operatic literature seeking to find common ground between Knoxville's vibrant indie scene and classical music circles..."  

Clearly, Knoxville's music scene is one of its greatest current assets and generally anything that bridges segments of that scene, without being tasteless crossover, is a good thing. That's why we were very interested to hear about Opera Consort's production of an original work by Trey Daugherty (Opera Consort founder), Diary of a Madman based on the short story by Nikolai Gogol.

As Daugherty describes it, the work is a vocal monologue with piano, the duo being Trey and his brother Justin Daugherty. Without any other knowledge of the work, its probably best to follow their own description.

"The story deals with a common government office worker slowly descending into intense schizophrenia. The Madman is in love with the daughter of his boss, finds out more about her when he intercepts letters written by her dog, and believes that he is the King of Spain as he tries to get the girl to notice him. As he is being carried away to an insane asylum, he believes that he is participating in his elaborate coronation and ascending to the Spanish throne... The work as an opera is an avant garde performance piece with improvised singing and accompaniment that may itself inflict some level of madness."

PLACE: The Birdhouse/Fourth and Gill Neighborhood Center
WHEN:  Friday evening, November 4 at 7:30 p.m.
HOW MUCH: FREE (Donations cheerfully appreciated)


]]> Tuesday: Bret Smithey, Baritone, "Deciphering Schwanengesang" tag:blogs.metropulse.com,2011:/classical_cafe//800.146398 2011-10-31T13:00:29Z 2011-10-31T13:05:14Z Alan Sherrod Bret Smithey will offer a lecture "Deciphering Schwanengesang" followed by his performance of the Franz Schubert work on Tuesday evening, November 1, in Performance Hall 32 of the Alumni Memorial Building on the UT Campus. 8:00 p.m. FREE


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