Chamber Music Series to Feature HSO Principal Musicians
HARTFORD, October 31, 2012 – The Hartford Symphony Orchestra will present Four Centuries in France, the opening concert of the 2012-2013 Sunday Serenades Chamber Music Series, on Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. This program is inspired by the the Wadsworth Atheneum’s French paintings collection and will feature performances of works by Couperin, Pleyel, Debussy, and Ravel. Sunday Serenades Artistic Director and HSO Concertmaster (principal violinist) Leonid Sigal will be joined by HSO Principal Violist Michael Wheeler, Assistant Principal Cellist Eric Dahlin, Principal Bassist Edward Rozie, Principal Flutist Greig Shearer, Assistant Principal Clarinetist Ronald Krentzman, Principal Oboist Heather Taylor, Assistant Principal Bassoonist Louis Lazzerini, principal French hornist Barbara Hill, and Pianist Margreet Francis for this intimate chamber program.
The Wadsworth’s Medieval to Monet: French Paintings in the Wadsworth Atheneum, features paintings, drawings and pastels, some rarely on view, which represent every major period in French artistic practice from the 15th to the 19th centuries and include works by the country’s leading artists such as Poussin, Chardin, Boucher, Delacroix, Monet and Vuillard. Inspired by these works of art, Sunday Serenades artistic director Leonid Sigal has programmed a concert comprised of four centuries of music by the French composers Couperin, Pleyel, Debussy and Ravel.
HSO Concertmaster and Sunday Serenades Artistic Director Leonid Sigal has enjoyed a multi-faceted career as recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestra leader. Born in Moscow, Russia, he began violin studies at age five. He moved to the US in 1995 when he was awarded a prestigious fellowship with the New World Symphony. A devoted chamber musician, Mr. Sigal frequently appears with the Miami Friends of Chamber Music and the Avery Ensemble, and has served as Artistic Director of the Miami Chamber Symphony.
Michael Wheeler, currently the HSO Principal Viola, has performed with the New World Symphony, Portland Symphony, Boston Classical Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and San Antonio Symphony. Mr. Wheeler has been a recitalist and chamber music player throughout New England performing with the Island Chamber Players and Karas String Quartet. He is on faculty at The Hartt School Community Division and lives in West Hartford with his wife, pianist, Ruriko Kagiyama, and their three daughters.
Eric Dahlin, assistant principal cellist of the HSO, has performed extensively in the US and Europe.
Locally, he can be heard playing with Hop River Chamber Players, Wall Street Chamber Players, and Island Chamber Players. He performs frequently on the Trinity College Summer Series and Sundays at the Parlor on Park with pianist Gary Chapman. Eric spent five summers at the Yellow Barn Chamber Music Festival in Vermont. Eric lives in Tariffville with his girlfriend, Katie (also a cellist), two sons, Martin and Elias, and dog, Max.
Edward “Rick” Rozie is the Principal Bass of the Hartford Symphony Orchestraand is a faculty member at The Hartt School, where he has taught since 1983. His orchestra experience includes Philarmonica de las Americas, Kansas City Philharmonic, Springfield Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Connecticut Opera and Hartford Ballet. Rick has alos played with Mixashoawn, Jay Hoggard Quartet, James Newton, Anthony Davis, Muhal Richard Abrams, and Andrea Bocelli, as well as at numerous jazz festivals worldwide.
Greig Shearer has been principal flutist with the Hartford Symphony since 1991, and has given recitals in Hartford, New York and Boston, performed as a soloist with the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler, and recorded for CRI Records. He is on the faculty of The Hartt School, where he is chair of the Winds and Brass department in the Community Division. He received aBachelor’s Degree from the New England Conservatory and a Master’s Degree from the Manhattan School. He has been a participant at the Ambler, Yale at Norfolk, Mozarteum (Salzburg), and Boxwood summer festivals.
Ronald M. Krentzman is the assistant principal clarinetist with the HSO. Prior to his appointment in Hartford, he was a member of the Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico, the American Philharmonic, and several orchestras in Connecticut, including Bridgeport, Waterbury, New Britain, Stamford Chamber Orchestra and Connecticut Grand Opera. He received his education at The Manhattan School of Music.
Heather Taylor has performed as Principal Oboist with the HSO since 1993. She has also performed as principal oboe with the St. Louis, San Diego, Richmond, and Florida Symphony Orchestra, among others. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from The Juilliard School and a Master’s Degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music. She is on faculty at The Hartt School and Trinity College.
Bassoonist Louis Lazzerini is currently in his 45th year performing with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. A native of New Britain, CT Lou has 35 years of experience as a public educator in Central Connecticut, where he has held teaching posts in East Windsor, Vernon, and South Windsor. In addition to his work with the HSO, Mr. Lazzerini has also performed with the Springfield and Bridgeport Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Connecticut Opera and Berkshire Opera. He is a graduate of the Hartt School at the University of Hartford.
This is Barbara Hill’s fourth season as Principal Horn with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. She joined the HSO in October 2006 as Fifth Horn, and held the position of Acting Second Horn for the 2007-08 season. Ms. Hill also has been a member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra where she was Acting Principal and Second Horn, and has performed with numerous Canadian orchestras including the Calgary Philharmonic and Orchestra London Canada.
Margreet Francis is a member of the Hartford Symphony where she plays piano, harpsichord, and celesta. Her performances have been recorded for the Centaur label and regularly broadcast over radio and T.V. Ms. Francis performs on a regular basis with members of the Miami String Quartet and the Hartford Symphony. She also spent several years playing piano with the New World Chamber Ensemble, Chamber Music Plus, the Soni Fidelis Woodwind Quintet and Trio ARIOSO.
CALENDAR LISTING:
HSO SUNDAY SERENADES SERIES: FOUR CENTURIES IN FRANCE
with Leonid Sigal, artistic director and violin; Michael Wheeler, viola; Eric Dahlin, cello; Edward Rozie, double bass; Greig Shearer, flute; Ronald Krentzman, clarinet; Heather Taylor, oboe; Louis Lazzerini, bassoon; Barbara Hill, French horn; Margreet Francis, piano
Sunday, November 18, 2012 │ 2:00 p.m.│ Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Program: Francois Couperin: Les Goûts-Réunis (Styles Reunited); Claude Debussy (Arr. Cooper): Numéro à Quatre, Sonata for Oboe, Horn and Harpsicord; Pleyel: Flute Quartet in B-flat Major; Ravel: Ma Mere l’Oye (Mother Goose), Chamber Version
Ticket Information: Subscriptions to the 2012-2013 Sunday Serenades Series are $64 and include admission to all three concerts. Single tickets to “Four Centuries in France” are $30 ($25 for HSO Subscribers and Atheneum Members). Ticket price includes general admission to the Wadsworth Atheneum on the days of the concerts. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact HSO ticket services at (860) 244-2999 or visit www.hartfordsymphony.org.
The HSO 2012-2013 Sunday Serenades Series is sponsored in part by the Saunders Charitable Foundation Music Endowment at the Wadsworth Atheneum. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s 2012-2013 season is sponsored by Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra receives major support from the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism.
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is located at 600 Main St. in Hartford, Connecticut. The Museum is open Wednesdays to Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please visit www.wadsworthatheneum.org for more information.