THE AMERICAN CHAMBER PLAYERS
with guest MARY CRESWELL, mezzo-soprano
Friday evening, January 18, 2002, at 7:30 p.m.
Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall, ISU Music Hall
The American Chamber Players (flute, violin, viola, cello, and piano), will be joined in concert by Iowa State University voice faculty member Mary Creswell in a concert of chamber music for various instrumental combinations by Beethoven, Ravel, and Brahms.
One of today's most exciting and innovative chamber music ensembles, The American Chamber Players have toured throughout North America, engaged and re- engaged by prestigious concert series from Florida to British Columbia. They perform a wonderfully varied repertoire ranging from familiar masterpieces to neglected gems to newly commissioned American works. The Washington Post writes, "They have established standards of chamber music performance equal to any in the world." The New York Times writes, "They appealedto the heart and the head, offering a warm, seductively luxurious sound and an impressive precision and unity of purpose."
The ensemble grew out of the highly successful Library of Congress Summer Chamber Festival, founded by artistic director Miles Hoffman. Paula Forrest, artistic director of Ames Town & Gown, was the library's coordinator for that festival. She remarks that the musicians brought together summer after summer by Miles Hoffman had a special flair and camaraderie that went beyond their musical talents and was infectious to the audience. It was only natural that their performing as an ensemble would go beyond the summertime, and far beyond Washington, D.C. It will be especially exciting to hear these superb musicians paired with ISU's newest member of the voice faculty--Mary Creswell!
The American Chamber Players' recordings on compact disc include the Quintets for piano and strings by Ernest Bloch; the Trio for clarinet, viola, and piano by Mozart; and the Suite from L'Histoire du Soldat by Igor Stravinsky. In addition to their profound dedication to chamber music, the members of the American Chamber Players are renowned soloists and members of prestigious symphony orchestras. Mr. Hoffman is the creator and commentator of "Coming to Terms," a weekly segment of NPR's popular Performance Today, and author of The NPR Classical Music Companion.
The American Chamber Players presents programs marvelously diverse in repertoire and instrumentation--various combinations of strings, winds, voice, and piano. Members appearing in Ames include Sara Stern, flute; Matilda Kaul, violin; Miles Hoffman, viola; Michael Mermagen, cello; and Edward Newman, piano. Joining The American Chamber Players will be the distinguished operatic mezzo-soprano Mary Creswell. Ms. Creswell has performed leading roles in opera and oratorio and with symphony orchestras throughout the country. Ms. Creswell made her New York City recital debut in 1995. She is featured on the Albany Records compact disc of Samuel Adler's Choose Life. In the summer Ms. Creswell is a teacher and performer at the Interlochen Arts Camp. She has recently joined the voice faculty at Iowa State University.
The program on January 18 includes
- Serenade for flute, violin, and viola, Op. 25, by Beethoven
- Chansons madecasses for voice, flute, cello, and piano by Ravel
- Two Songs, Op. 91, for mezzo-soprano, viola, and piano by Brahms
- Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60, by Brahms
As part of its outreach mission, Ames Town and Gown is also arranging for a special performance by The American Chamber Players at the Heartland Senior Center supported by a grant from the Iowa Arts Council.
The 2001-2002 season of Ames Town & Gown is presented with support from the Ames Commission on the Arts.
