If You Haven’t Heard Bay Chamber Concerts Has A Really Fantastic Line Up This Summer
2014 Summer Concerts in Rockport Maine
One of the most special treasures of the Camden area is the Bay Chamber Concerts. Although they are produced year round the Summer concerts have a special energy about them. The cooling breeze off of Rockport Harbor with the boats and the moonlight on the water all conspire to lift one’s spirit to a place where it is possible to hear the music as though it speaks only to you. Check out the concerts and make sure you reserve your tickets in advance. This is a very popular series.
This year is no exception with the selection of pieces of music both sublime and beloved, and performed by some of the most gifted musicians on the scene today.
Take for instance the concert scheduled for July 24 at the Rockport Opera House. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. It is difficult to conceive of how the passionate priest of Venice was almost forgotten shortly after his death, to the point where even his Four Seasons was not performed in its original format. It makes one consider what beauty of other artists has been forever lost to the world that may never be “rediscovered” as Vivaldi has.
My daughter recently “rediscovered” Vivaldi in the guise of something called “The Piano Guy”. If you haven’t seen him on YouTube you don’t know what you’re missing. I won’t say that I am a bit of a purist and really rather enjoy the original composition more… I will say that if the Piano Guy can get a new generation interested in Vivaldi than I am all for it!
At the writing of this post the Bay Chamber Summer Concert Series is beginning its third week. The Bay Chamber characterizes the three pieces chosen for the next concert as “timeless”. I believe that to be true. A local DJ playing the 1963 release of the Rolling Stones “Let’s Spend the Night Together” remarked that it still sounded “fresh and new” fifty one years later. Well, I feel the same way about The Four Seasons and Piazzolla’s Estaciones Porteñas. I don’t know who chooses the selections but this combination should make for a really enticing and exciting comparison. Interestingly enough The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires was not meant to be performed as a single composition. Rather Piazzolla wrote them as four different tango compositions rather than as a single suite. But tango after baroque is something I really want to be there for!
The violinist performing on July 24th is Elissa Koljonen. She performs with the faculty of the Curtis Institute – a highly regarded conservatory of music.
Download A Calendar of the Entire Summer Music Concert Series Here!
World Class Performances In Intimate Setting
The Bay Chamber Summer Concert series in Rockport Maine is an intimate venue. Although I love the Met, there is nothing like being close enough to hear the artist take a breath. Every seat in this house is a good one. There is something very soulful about enjoying sophisticated music in this Americana setting. It’s like interrupting your old Maine aunt in her parlor while she is having Paganini to tea.
The following night, July 25th Union Hall will feature another remarkable concert, featuring several pieces by Robert Schumann. Returning to perform are the students and faculty of the Curtis Institute. The intimate setting of Union Hall and the formidable talent of the artists will provide the makings for a truly stunning evening.
Ms. Koljonen, for anyone who has been living under a rock, is a very bright star. She has been praised by many critics in over one hundred cities, and has won numerous awards. But those are words. You must hear her. And live performances, especially ones in small intimate settings can be life changing experiences.
This post is meant to bring attention to the Bay Chamber summer concert series, – a hidden gem of Rockport Maine. Although the July 24th concert looks to be a rare treat, you should look at their entire summer series line up for more great performances to come.
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A List of the 2014 Summer Concerts in Rockport Maine
July 24
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THE FOUR SEASONS
THE MARY CURTIS BOK ZIMBALIST CONCERT A PERFORMANCY BY THE CURTIS ON TOUR ENSEMBLE VIVALDI THE FOUR SEASONS (QUATTRO STAGGIONI) FEATURING VIOLIN SOLOISTS JUNG…
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July 25
SCHUMANN
SHANNON LEE, VIOLIN ROBERTO DÍAZ, VIOLA JOHN-HENRY CRAWFORD, CELLO STEVEN LIN, PIANO THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED TOURING ENSEMBLE OF CURTIS INSTITUTE…
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July 31
ROMANTIC MUSIC FOR CLARINET AND PIA…
JOSE FRANCH-BALLESTER, CLARINET; RAN DANK, PIANO. PROGRAM: SCHUMANN 3 ROMANCES OP. 94 RACHMANINOFF PIANO SONATA NO. 2 IN BB MINOR BRAHMS SONATA NO….
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August 1
FROM FRANCE TO AMERICA
JOSE FRANCH-BALLESTER, CLARINET; RAN DANK, PIANO DEBUSSY PREMIÈRE RHAPSODIE CHOPIN MAZURKAS AND A POLONAISE POULENC SONATA FOR CLARINET AND PIANO JOHN NOVACEK 4 RAGS…
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August 7
DIALOGUE
THE FIRST CONCERT BY AN ENSEMBLE OF MUCH LOVED BAY CHAMBER MUSICIANS AND FRIENDS. GEOFF NUTTALL, VIOLIN/VIOLA; LIVIA SOHN, VIOLIN;…
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August 8
COUPERIN – BERIO – MOZART
GEOFF NUTTALL, VIOLIN/VIOLA; LIVIA SOHN, VIOLIN; CHRISTOPHER COSTANZA, CELLO; JAMES AUSTIN SMITH, OBOE; PEDJA MUZIJEVIC, PIANO AND HARPSICHORD. COUPERIN “CONCERTS…
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August 21
BEETHOVEN – DOHNANYI
GEOFF NUTTALL, VIOLIN; LIVIA SOHN, VIOLIN; NATHAN SCHRAM, VIOLA; CHRISTOPHER COSTANZA, CELLO; STEPHEN PRUTSMAN, PIANO BEETHOVEN EYEGLASS DUO BEETHOVEN PIANO…
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August 22
SHERLOCK JR.
GEOFF NUTTALL, VIOLIN; LIVIA SOHN, VIOLIN; NATHANIEL SCHRAM, VIOLA; CHRISTOPHER COSTANZA, CELLO; STEVEN PRUTSMAN, PIANO. TO CLOSE OUR SUMMER SERIES,…
Information about ticket prices and subscriptions
Festival Week Passport: $200
(offers access to all Festival concerts apart from Telemann’s Pimpinone. No reserved seating.)
DISCOUNT PACKAGES (no reserved seating)
Buy tickets for 3 – 5 different events: 10% discount
Buy tickets for 6 – 9 different events: 15% discount
Buy tickets for 10 or more different events: 20% discount
SINGLE TICKET PRICES
$60 for Opening Thursday Night Gala Concert and Eleanor Sokoloff Tribute Concert during the Festival Week
$45 for Thursday Night Series Concerts and Festival Opening Night Gala Concert
$35 for Friday concerts $25 for all other Festival Performances (exceptions: Festival Opening Night Gala Concert, Thursday Night Series Concerts, the Eleanor Sokoloff Tribute Gala Concert and the Brewster Point Opera Gala Performance).
$100 for Brewster Point Opera Gala Performance – Telemann’s Pimpinone. Program and/or artists are subject to change.
$10 Youth Ticket Price for all events
Subscriptions are now available for purchase online please click on the link listed below to browse through this summer’s available options and decide which package works for you!
http://securesite.baychamberconcerts.org/subscription/packages.aspx
For information on 2014 Summer Concert Series and Summer Music Festival, please contact our Box Office via email or call (207) 236-2823.