The second in the Lenape Chamber Ensemble’s series of Summer Gala Concerts at 8 p.m. July 20 will present a lively and contrasting program of music by three well-loved composers Robert Schumann, Claude Debussy, and Ludwig von Beethoven.
Enjoyment of the music in air-cooled comfort will be enhanced by the superb acoustics of Delaware Valley University’s Life Science auditorium, 700 E. Butler Ave., Doylestown.
On stage will be prominent members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, including the Quartet Iris with violinists Julia Li and Chistine Lim, Violist Che-Hung Chen and cellist Yumi Kendall.
For the first selection, Che-Hung Chen, a violist in the orchestra since the age of 20, joins international prizewinning pianist Marcantonio Barone in the “Marchenbilder for Viola and Piano,” written by Schumann in 1851. The work’s title, meaning “Fairy Tale pictures,” is intended to create shifting moods with the changing rhythms of its four movements,
Next, the Quartet Iris will perform Debussy’s “String Quartet in G minor, Opus 10,” written during the time of his earlier masterpieces such as his “Prélude à l’Apres-midi d’un Faune.” It contains Debussy’s blend of classic quartet writing in the style of Cesar Franck, combined with his dream-like impressionistic methods. This particular Quartet is said to be one of the high points in chamber music literature.
The big finale is Beethoven’s lively and sparkling “Septet for Winds and Strings in E-flat, Opus 20.” Beethoven wrote it at about the same time as his “Symphony No. 1,” leaning heavily on examples of works by Haydn and Mozart. This work became so popular that Beethoven made arrangements for trio, quartet and piano.
Members of the Philadelphia winds include second clarinetist Socrates Villegas, bassoonist Emeline Chong and associate principal horn Jeffrey Lang. They will join Philadelphia’s associate Concertmaster, Christine Lim, who will lead the Septet along with violist Che-Hung Chen, assistant principal cellist Yumi Kendall and bassist Nathaniel West.
Tickets at $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students are available online, at the door or by calling 610-294-9361.
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