Performing Arts Series

Just two years ago, the Heath Quartet became the first ensemble in 15 years to win the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artists Award. In this second recital as Middlebury’s winter term quartet in residence, the Heath plays Béla Bartók’s String Quartets 2, 4, and 6. This free Performing Arts Series concert is made possible with generous support from the Sunderman Family Concert Endowment Fund, in memory of Dr. F. William Sunderman, Jr. and Dr. Carolyn Reynolds Sunderman.See associated concerts January 14 and February 4. Free; no tickets required.

After hearing this U.K.-based quartet’s stunning U.S. debut here in April 2014, and seeing their exemplary work with Middlebury students, Performing Arts Series Director Allison Coyne Carroll invited this extraordinary ensemble to spend Winter Term 2016 as the first-ever Quartet in Residence. They will teach, perform the entire Bartók cycle over two concerts,—and offer an third, mixed-repertoire recital. In this first recital, the Heath plays Béla Bartók’s String Quartets 1, 3, and 5.

Performed by the Heath Quartet The Heath Quartet—the Performing Arts Series first quartet-in-residence—will perform a special matinee concert of original works composed by students in Professor Su Lian Tan’s MUSC309 class. Composers include Henry Pearson ‘17, Sam Kudman ‘17, York Kitajima ‘15, Tevan Goldberg ‘18, and Scott Waller ‘17.5. Sponsored by the Performing Arts Series, Department of Music, and Rothrock Residency Fund for Experiential Learning in the Performing Arts. Free

We can think of no better way to open the Performing Arts Series’ 96th season than to invite back our friend, cellist Sophie Shao, whose impromptu, but always note-perfect, chamber ensembles have proved a highlight of many recent seasons. Shao is joined by Gilles Vonsattel, piano; Carmit Zori, violin; and Paul Neubauer, viola. The Times Union reflects, “The players maintained a seamless cohesion and a warm, lean tone.

Over the past decade, the Doric String Quartet has been a rising star on the chamber music scene, taking its place among the finest quartets of its generation. Lauded as “inventive, engaging, moving, and beautiful” by the Strad magazine, the U.K.-based ensemble comes to Middlebury for the first time with a program including Mendelssohn’s Quartet in E-flat Major, the Lyric Suite by Berg, and Schubert’s dramatic G Major quartet. This free Performing Arts Series concert is made possible with generous support from the Sunderman Family Concert Endowment Fund, in memory of Dr. F.

NEW PROGRAM! Persian music trio Constantinople makes its Middlebury debut in a special culture-spanning program, a poetic encounter between strings (setar, viola de gamba), percussion, and voice, blending music from the Persian, Mediterranean, and Baroque traditions. “…an intriguing East-meets-West quality suggested by the juxtaposition of the gamba and the Persian instruments”—New York Times. Due to international visa complications, previously announced kora player Ablaye Cissoko will be unable to join us. Sponsored by the Performing Arts Series.

Known worldwide for their technical wizardry, breathtaking intensity, and wide-ranging repertoire, this trio performs an exciting and innovative evening of classical and contemporary works that includes everything from unique originals to dazzling, cleverly-arranged interpretations of jazz, classical, rock, and world music. Trio members Bert Lams, Hideyo Moriya, and Paul Richards, hailed by Pulse Music for their “passionate virtuosity,” are graduates of Robert Fripp’s League of Crafty Guitarists. Sponsored by the Performing Arts Series.

Trumpeter, vocalist, and composer Bria Skonberg is “poised to be one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation”—Wall Street Journal. Her star is on the rise: she earned a 2013 Jazz Journalists’ Association nomination for “Up and Coming Jazz Artist of The Year,” won a spot in Downbeat Magazine’s Rising Star Critics’ Poll for the past two years running, and swept the 2014 Hot House Jazz Awards in all categories nominated: Best Jazz Artist, Best Trumpet, Best Female Vocalist, and Best Group.

Actor/writer/director Rotimi Agbabiaka offers a theatre master class for Middlebury College students following his Type/Caste performance the previous evening. Free. Open to Middlebury ID card holders only.

Back by popular demand, the world’s most renowned a cappella ensemble returns to Middlebury to celebrate its 50th anniversary season. Acclaimed for virtuosity, life-affirming energy, and charm, they present a program surveying five decades of King’s Singers repertoire, plus new works commissioned for this anniversary year.

A Nelson Series event. A Performing Arts Series event.