May 06 Monday
In an intimate dinner-theater experience, "Domme & Giovanni" is a modern retelling of Mozart's famous opera "Don Giovanni". In this sexy, modern and comedic twist of the centuries-old opera, Giovanni better ensures the relevancy told from a female point of view.
May 10 Friday
J.S. Bach owed part of his creative inspiration to the 17th-century’s Stylus phantasticus, a method that sought freedom of form and expression, especially in instrumental works. This program explores several composers who embraced this approach. With a flourishing send-off in the finale of our 25th anniversary year, birds of a feather include Rosenmüller, Reincken, Westhoff, Schmelzer, Scheidt, and Bach, with his sparkling harpsichord concerto in E major.
With Christina Day Martinson, Megumi Stohs Lewis, violins; Jenny Stirling, viola; Jennifer Morsches, piccolo cello; Timothy Merton, cello; Maggie Cole, harpsichord.
Information at https://www.sarasamusic.org/birds
May 11 Saturday
Molly Aronson, Cello and Laura Manko Sahin, Viola
present a program of works from the 18th to the 21st centuries, by a range of composers who bring the musical traditions of Italy, China, South Africa, Turkey, Germany, Mexico, India, France, and the United States.
Allegro Moderato from the Viola Sonata in c minor, G. 18 - Luigi Boccherini
Seasons from 7 Tunes Heard in China - Bright Sheng
Variazioni sopra una ninnananna africana - Hendrik Hofmeyr
Deploration pour une amie defunte - Monique Gabus
El Choclo Tango - Angel Villoldo
Duet mit zwei obligaten Augengläsern - L.V. Beethoven
Akeda - Gilad Hochman
Stran- Rizgar Ismael
Allegro Brillante from the Duo for Viola and Cello - Walter Piston
Breathing Sunlight - Akshaya Tucker (Western Mass. native!)
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artistic Directors Wu Han and David Finckel return to end the season with guest violinist Chad Hoopes.
May 12 Sunday
On Sunday, May 12, at 3PM, the Springfield Chamber Players will perform Clifton J. Noble, Jr.’s Johnny Appleseed, a folk cantata for narrator, treble choir, and chamber ensemble based on Jane Yolen’s children’s book. Legendary nurseryman Johnny Appleseed’s (John Chapman) Longmeadow roots inspired the Longmeadow Chamber Music Society to commission Noble to write the piece in 2008. This performance will be its first since then. Noble, music director and pianist for the concert, will be joined by Marsha Harbison, violinist; Boris Kogan, cellist; Michael Nix, banjoist; Ellen Redman, flutist; and the First Church Children’s Choir. Patrick Berry narrates. Additional music selections and cast will be announced. Tickets, general admission, are $25.00, and student tickets are $10.00: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/johnny-appleseed-tickets-784786837557?aff=oddtdtcreator
May 17 Friday
The Verona Quartet will kick off Electric Earth Concerts’ 2024 season on Friday, May 17, at 7 pm in the First Church in Jaffrey, with works by Mendelssohn, Bacewicz and Beethoven.
“Vibrant, intelligent, full of temperament…an outstanding ensemble”—The New York Times
General admission is $30, payable online or at the door, via cash or check. Students may attend for free.
May 18 Saturday
Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra is the finest in avant-garde community music — an unruly mob of all types of guitars and players. Our program consists of new arrangements by Artistic Director Joseph Ricker of music by J.S Bach, Enrique Granados, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Masato Nakamura's scores from Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, our grand orchestral take of the Beatles Dear Prudence and the premier of an original work, Promonade, inspired by the layered guitars of The Cure and the vocal harmonies of Crosby Stills Nash and Young. The HVGO will be joined in these concerts by the dynamic drum phenomenon Eliezer Martinez.
May 25 Saturday
The Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP), the nation’s premier orchestra dedicated exclusively to commissioning, performing, and recording new orchestral music, concludes its 26th season with a free concert at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. The daring program premieres Hawking Radation by contemporary female composer Yu-Hui Chang as well as orchestral works by three composers intertwined by Boston universities — Harvard University classmates Harold Shapero and Leonard Bernstein, and Brandeis University alumnus Henri Lazarof (under the tutelage of Shapero) — all led by GRAMMY Award-Winning Conductor and Artistic Director of BMOP, Gil Rose.