La Musica International Chamber Music Festival Announces 34th Season

The critically-acclaimed La Musica International Chamber Music Festival celebrates 34 seasons this year, with events from March 31 to April 13, 2020. Four concerts will be held at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. Subscriptions to all four concerts are $180; single tickets are $50.

The Musicians

Joining Associate Artistic Director Derek Han (pianist) this season are violinists Zachary DePue, Jennifer Frautschi, Anastasiya Petryshak; violist Daniel Palmizio; cellists Dmitri Atapine, Christine J. Lee; pianist Steven Lin; double bassist Dee Moses; harpist Ann Hobson Pilot; and trumpeter Brandon Ridenour. Musicians making their La Musica debuts are DePue, Lin, Petryshak, and Ridenour.

Due to Italy’s countrywide lockdown, violist Paul Cortese will replace violist Bruno Giuranna for the season. Giuranna, also La Musica’s artistic director, chose Cortese, who was born in Wisconsin and currently lives in Barcelona, Spain. He is professor of viola and chamber music at the conservatory of the Liceo, and presents a regular masterclass in the Arcos Academy in Madrid. He has performed extensively in the U.S., Canada, and the European Union; and has taught masterclasses in Spain, Italy, France, Vietnam, the U.S., Poland, Latvia, Moldova, Germany, Hungary, and Estonia. This is his first time performing with La Musica.

The Concerts

Tuesday, April 2, 7:30 p.m.
Beethoven’s 250th Birthday

La Musica begins and ends the season celebrating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, whose influence on future generations of composers cannot be overstated. Brahms was widely considered Beethoven’s successor. Hans von Koessler, an adherent of Brahms, taught Dohnányi, who was a distinguished professor at Florida State University from 1949-1959.

Ludwig van Beethoven, String Trio in G major Op. 9, No. 1
with Anastasiya Petryshak, Paul Cortese, Christine J. Lee

Ernö Dohnányi, Piano Quintet in E flat minor Op. 26, No. 2
with Zachary DePue, Jennifer Frautschi, Daniel Palmizio, Dmitri Atapine, Derek Han

Johannes Brahms, String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major Op. 18
with Jennifer Frautschi, Anastasiya Petryshak, Paul Cortese, Daniel Palmizio, Dmitri Atapine, Christine J. Lee

Monday, April 6, 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Barber’s Beloved Adagio for Strings

Barber’s meditative Adagio in its original instrumentation for string quartet is even more moving than the popular string orchestra version, which was featured in the film “Platoon” and performed at the funerals of Princess Grace and Albert Einstein.

Samuel Barber, Adagio for Strings
with Jennifer Frautschi, Zachary DePue, Daniel Palmizio, Christine J. Lee

Camille Saint-Saëns, Fantaisie pour Violon et Harpe Op. 124
with Anastasiya Petryshak, Ann Hobson Pilot

Claude Debussy, Danses sacrée et profane
with Zachary DePue, Anastasiya Petryshak, Daniel Palmizio, Christine J. Lee, Dee Moses, Ann Hobson Pilot

Franz Schubert, Piano Quintet in A major Op. 114, D667 (Trout)
with Jennifer Frautschi, Paul Cortese, Dmitri Atapine, Dee Moses, Derek Han

Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.
The Fab Four Meet the Spectacular Six

Favorite Beatles’ tunes are featured in an arrangement for trumpet and strings by Brandon Ridenour, from his 2019 album, “Come Together,” made to honor the 50th anniversary of the song. Included are “Eleanor Rigby,” “Yesterday,” “Blackbird,” and “Across the Universe.” Following intermission, John Moffitt, an Emmy Award-winning television director, will talk about his experience recording The Beatles when they made their first appearance in the U.S. on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Wolfgang Mozart, Piano Quartet in G minor No. 1, K478
with Anastasiya Petryshak, Paul Cortese, Christine J. Lee, Derek Han

Bernhard Romberg, Trio in E minor Op. 38, No. 1 for Cello, Viola and Double Bass
with Christine J. Lee, Paul Cortese, Dee Moses

Camille Saint-Saëns, Septet for Piano, Trumpet and Strings in E flat major Op. 65
with Zachary DePue, Anastasiya Petryshak, Daniel Palmizio, Dmitri Atapine, Dee Moses, Brandon Ridenour, Steven Lin

John Lennon/Paul McCartney, arr. Brandon Ridenour, Four Songs for Trumpet and String Quintet
with Brandon Ridenour, Zachary De Pue, Anastasiya Petryshak, Daniel Palmizio, Dmitri Atapine, Dee Moses

Monday, April 13, 7:30 p.m.
Folk Music and Beethoven’s Successors

Kodály was heavily influenced by Eastern European folk music, as was Dvořák. Yet one can also hear Beethoven’s influence in the structure and passion in their works performed in this program.

Ludwig van Beethoven, Trio in C minor Op. 1, No. 3

with Anastasiya Petryshak, Dmitri Atapine, Derek Han

Zoltan Kodály, Serenade Op. 12

with Anastasiya Petryshak, Zachary DePue, Daniel Palmizio

Antonin Dvořák, Piano Quartet in E flat major Op. 87

with Zachary DePue, Paul Cortese, Christine J. Lee, Derek Han

Open Rehearsals March 31-April 12

Rehearsals, held in the Peterson Great Room, second floor of the Opera Pavilion at the Sarasota Opera House, are open to the public and offer a rare opportunity to discover how notes come together to form a musical masterpiece and how the musicians collaborate to make this happen. Rehearsals are free of charge for series subscribers, faculty and students; non-subscribers may purchase a pass to all rehearsals for $80, or daily passes for $20.

Special Events

Friday, April 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Meet the Musicians

Mingle with the musicians and enjoy a mini concert in the Dolphin Aviation hangar, 8191 N. Tamiami Trail #100, Sarasota. Wine and light bites are served. $30 per person.

Tuesday, April 7, 6:00 p.m.

Musical Chefs Interactive Dinner

Hosted by Phil Mancini at Michael’s Wine Cellar, 1283 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. La Musica artists Dmitri Atapine and Dee Moses, along with Michael’s On East’s Executive Chef Jamil Pineda, take turns leading guests in cooking demonstrations to prepare the evening’s multi-course meal. $200-$300 per person. Sponsored by Gloria Moss in honor of Janet Hunter.

Major Season Sponsors

The season is sponsored and funded in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues (TDT), the Martha Leiter and Nancy Streetman Fund II of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and The Westin.

Visit www.lamusicafestival.org for performance and special event tickets and rehearsal schedule. For more information or to order tickets by phone, please call the box office at 941-366-8450, option 7.