Bringing distinctive, diverse, and predominantly classical music concerts to the Lake Sunapee-New London region is the mission of Summer Music Associates and what a 44th season they have in store for us this year!
The esteemed Boston Civic Symphony, now in its 93rd year, will return for the sixth time to New London. Max Hobart, the long-time conductor of the Symphony has retired, but his love for performing in New London has brought him back to conduct the concert. The program will feature two young soloists, Elizabeth McCormack, flautist, performing an exhilarating Fantasie by the French composer, Georges Hue; and the young and vibrant baritone, John Castillo, singing selections of Rossini, Mozart, and Bizet. The program also includes an overture by Rossini and the Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major.
The Beacon Brass Quintet joins the roster again as well. These five musicians have delighted audiences with their brass arrangements ranging from Bach to Ellington. Two of the members recently performed in New London as a First Friday event co-sponsored by Center for the Arts and entertained the audience with examples of original instruments, types of mutes, and explanations of the role of the trumpet in orchestral settings.
This year’s program includes works by Paul Dukas, Bach, Giovani Gabrieli, Edvard Grieg, Malcolm Arnold, Debussy, and Duke Ellington. That is quite a range!
Walden Chamber Players bring two new musicians to our area by including in the quintet Bridget Kibbey, Harpist, and Marianne Gedigian, Flautist. Diana Cohen will perform on Violin, Christof Huebner on Viola, and Ashima Scripp on Cello. This year’s program will include works by Arnold Bax, C. Saint-Saens, C. Debussy, M. Ravel, and Joseph Jongen.
Founded in 1997, the Boston-based Walden Chamber Players has garnered a reputation for being one of the most exciting and versatile chamber groups performing today. Critics have hailed its performances of original compositions to our enthusiastic audiences. Chris is the son of the legendary jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck, and many of the pieces in the program are Chris’ arrangements of Dave Brubeck classics. Throw in some Mississippi Blues, outrageous harmonica playing by Peter Madcat Ruth, and stellar guitar work by Joel Brown as well as Chris on trombone, guitar, and keyboards, and you have the recipe for a rollicking everything from Bach to Schoenberg, Chamber Music America Magazine raves: “A season spent with the Walden Chamber Players is a time for discovery.”
The award-winning Altius String Quartet is coming to present a program featuring some of the most beloved string quartets in the repertoire. The program will open with Haydn’s celebrated Sunrise String Quartet, a work that gets its moniker through its depiction of the sunrise in the first violin’s opening theme. It is considered to be at the zenith of his compositional career and contains all the elements that make Haydn so loved. The program continues with Dvorak’s famous American String Quartet, a work that was inspired by the composer’s experiences while living in the new world…and concludes with Mendelssohn’s masterful last String Quartet in F Minor, a mature work that includes all the sturm und drang a nineteenth century romantic can muster.
To end the season with a bang, Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play will bring its jazz and blues renditions and a great time!
Boston Civic Symphony: Saturday, June 24
Sawyer Theater, Colby-Sawyer College, 541 Main Street, New London
Beacon Brass Quintet: Thursday, July 13
First Baptist Church, 461 Main Street, New London
Walden Chamber Players: Thursday, July 27
First Baptist Church, New London
Altius String Quartet: Thursday, August 10
First Baptist Church, New London
Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play: Saturday, August 26
Sawyer Theater, Colby-Sawyer College, New London
All concerts begin at 7:30 PM. Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $5 for students. Season tickets are $100. Available on the website; .summermusicassociates.com; by phone 603.526.8234; by mail,
PO Box 603, New London, New Hampshire 03257; or at the door.