by Mark G. Auerbach
Spencer Myer, piano. Photo by Roberto Araujo.
LONGMEADOW – The Longmeadow Chamber Music Society and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, which last year announced their collaboration to continue a series of chamber music concerts in Longmeadow, have announced their first two programs for 2018.
According to Kevin Rhodes, Music Director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, “I’m really excited that the Springfield Symphony will be taking over the leadership of the Longmeadow Chamber Music Society concerts. We’ve always wanted to broaden our performance experiences in this way and coinciding with our upcoming 75th Anniversary season, the timing is just perfect”.
Maestro Rhodes added “I’m looking forward to featuring many of the Springfield Symphony musicians who have never been heard individually before, as well as engaging on a new, intimate, and consistent basis with our audiences. As we continue with the planning for the 75th Anniversary season, I’m looking forward to trying some new ways of presenting Chamber music that I’ve been thinking about for years and wanting to try. I’m very thankful to our friends and colleagues who have been the heart and soul of Longmeadow Chamber Music Society for all of the years for reaching out as they did to hand over the reins of the organization in this wonderful way”.
Aristedes Rivas, cellist. Photo by Gulnara Niaz
On Sunday, February 25, at 3PM, at Longmeadow’s First Church of Christ on the Green, Springfield Symphony Orchestra principal cellist Aristides Rivas, and the award-winning pianist Spencer Myer, who has performed as a guest artist with the Springfield Symphony, will perform sonatas for Piano an Cello by Beethoven and Tango by Piazzolla. This season, Rivas and Myer have been partnering to perform the complete works for cello and piano by Beethoven on a series at the Longhy School of Music of Bard College. Maestro Kevin Rhodes will introduce the musicians and provide some commentary about the music on the program.
On Sunday, May 13 at 3PM at Longmeadow’s First Church of Christ on the Green, Maestro Kevin Rhodes will introduce a program, From Bach to Ragtime, featuring the Springfield Symphony Brass Quintet, which includes trumpeters Thomas Bergeron and Gerald Serfass, trombonist Brian Diehl, Lauren Winter on horn, and Stephen Perry on Tuba.
The First Church of Christ is located at 783 Longmeadow Street. For concert details: 413-733-2291 or www.springfieldsymphony.org
—
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat Radio for 89.5fm/WSKB.
