2011 - 2012 Season Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   

Music from the Western Reserve unveils
its 2011-2012 concert season.

Since its inauguration in the fall of 1983, the Music from the Western Reserve concert series has been connecting Northeast Ohio audiences with some of the world’s finest chamber music artists.  Now in its twenty-ninth year, Music from the Western Reserve is proud to continue that tradition by officially announcing its lineup for the 2011-2012 season, “Classic Sounds, Modern Masters.”

The new season kicks off on Sunday, September 18 with classical guitarist Jason Vieaux.  Lauded by The New York Times as one of the “youngest stars of the guitar world,” he is a virtuoso of profound emotive depth and vitality.  With ten acclaimed commercial albums to his name, there is no place for Vieaux but at the forefront of today’s great classical guitarists.

JR Fralick, tenor, will perform Sunday, October 16.  Praised by the Akron Beacon Journal for being “vocally suave, with a honeyed tone and liquid phrasing,” Dr. Fralick is a prolific tenor of both power and grace.  He has garnered like accolades for his Rudolfo in La Boheme, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Alfredo in La Traviata, and Camille in The Merry Widow.  Accompanying Dr. Fralick will be Christine Fuoco, piano.

Celebrated as masters of their craft and as a dynamic mother/daughter tandem, The Chelsea Duo will perform Sunday, November 4.  The Plain Dealer called Marcia Ferritto “a violist with a full singing tone, delicacy, grace and instrumental command.”  Her daughter, violinist Annie Fullard, is a founding member of the multi-award-winning Cavani String Quartet.  Individually acclaimed, collectively majestic.  Joining The Chelsea Duo for this concert is Mari Sato, violin.

Matt Allen, cello, is this year’s MfTWR Featured Young Artist, and will be performing Sunday, March 18.  At the age of 18, Allen’s spirited mastery of the cello has already been recognized with awards, recordings, and volumes of national praise.  He made his European debut in 2010, followed by a major-city tour of Japan.  Accomplished beyond his years, skilled for any age, Allen is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Performing Sunday, April 15 will be The Almeda Trio.  The Music Settlement’s trio-in-residence possess a well-garnered reputation for engaging its audiences with a broad traditional repertoire, dynamic forays into a wide range of genres—contemporary, folk, jazz—and a stage presence that transcends the music itself to a near tactile experience.  Merging bold whimsy with classical sophistication, the Almeda Trio is Cara Tweed, violin, Ida Mercer, cello, and Robert Cassidy, piano. 

Bringing the season to a close on Sunday, May 20 will be the Neo-Tessares Saxophone Quartet.  With interests that run the gamut from cutting-edge contemporary to faithful transcriptions of the masters, these four musicians create windows to emotional landscapes that are as expansive as they are personally accessible.  The Neo-Tessares Saxophone Quartet are John Perrine, soprano, Cory Kasprzyk, alto, Tom Lempner, tenor, and Richie Gaukin, baritone.

Six concerts.  Six opportunities to experience something heart-soaring, real and true in an all too synthesized world.  Showcased by the lush acoustics of Christ Church Episcopal, hear timeless sounds in the timeless setting of historic downtown Hudson.

Join us.  Live.  Listen close.

Season tickets are $75.  Single tickets, $15.  Students attend the concerts at no cost.  Tickets go on sale September 1 and can be purchased at www.MFTWR.org, the Learned Owl in Hudson or at the door.
     

Media Inquiries:

Elisabeth Hugh, General Manager
Music from The Western Reserve
P.O. Box 998 - Hudson, OH 44236

info@mftwr.org