Series spotlights the best of chamber music

10:41 a.m., Sept. 8, 2005--Some of the world's top classical music performers will visit the University of Delaware this year in the 2005-06 Master Players Chamber Series.

The concert series, cosponsored by the Office of the President, the Department of Music and the UD Performing Arts Series, will feature master works of classical music performed by UD faculty artists, international concert soloists and special guests from the Metropolitan Opera Company, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Baltimore and Delaware Symphony Orchestras, among others.

Charles Abramovic

Premier seating is being reserved at these concerts for the University's most generous donors—the members of the Delaware Diamonds Society and the Legacy Society. Those who are not already members may wish to consider joining: There are numerous advantages to membership in addition to supporting an institution of value and importance. Details of membership are available by contacting the University Development Office at (302) 831-2104.

All concerts in the series will begin at 8 p.m., Fridays, in Mitchell Hall on the Newark campus.

Susanne Mentzer

Opening the series on Oct. 7 will be "Master Players! Master Pieces!," with works by Mozart, Haydn and Brahms. Sharing the stage will be violinist David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra; cellist Andrés Díaz, who has been praised in The New York Times for his "strongly personal interpretive vision"; violist Steven Tenebom, a member of the Orion String Quartet and Opus One; clarinetist Steven Barta, of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; pianist Charles Abramovic, who teaches at Temple University; violinist Meredith Amado, associate concertmaster of the Delaware Symphony; and from the UD faculty cellist Lawrence Stomberg, who also serves on the cello faculty of the Eastern Music Festival, and violinist Xiang Gao, who has performed around the world and serves as artistic director of the Master Players Chamber Series.

A free public master class with the guest artists will be held from 1:25-2:30 p.m., Oct. 7, in the Amy E. du Pont Music Building.

Xiang Gao, artistic director of the series, with UD’s Ceruti violin

On Nov. 18, the theme will be "A Romantic Evening at the Opera," and performing will be pianist Martin Katz, named by Musical America as "Accompanist of the Year"; mezzosoprano Susanne Mentzer, who has been praised by The New York Times for "waves of vocal beauty"; tenor William Ferguson of New York's Metropolitan Opera Company, praised for "suave assurance while delivering an inspired characterization" by The Boston Globe; and UD faculty bass-baritone Daniel Cole, a founding member of the Concord Ensemble.

A free public master class is scheduled from 1:25-2:30 p.m., Nov. 18, in the Loudis Recital Hall of the Amy E. du Pont Music Building.

"Ceruti Unlimited! Xiang Gao and Friends II" is scheduled on Feb. 24. After last year's highly successful and sold-out concert, "From Cremona to Beijing, the New Silk Road—Xiang Gao and Friends," the faculty violin virtuoso and the UD Ceruti violin return to the stage of Mitchell Hall for another passionate and creative performance in the styles of classical, bluegrass, jazz and beyond. Special guests will include violinist Barbara Govatos, who serves as artistic director of the Delaware Chamber Music Festival and violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra; and from the UD faculty Brian Stone, who conducts the UD Orchestra; faculty pianists Carol Prodan and Christine Delbeau; and the UD Faculty Jazz Ensemble, Vernon James, saxophone; Harvey Price, vibraphone; Tom Palmer, drums; Michael Arenson, piano; and Ranaan Meyer, bass.

Eugenia Zuckerman

The series concludes May 12 with "Bravo! Amadeus!," a celebration of Mozart's 250th birthday. This concert is presented in conjunction with the University's Performing Arts Series. Presenting works by one of the greatest composers of all time will be flutist Eugenia Zuckerman, artistic director of the International Vail Valley Music Festival in Colorado and a member of the music faculty of New York University; Qing Li, principal second violin with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Peter Landgren, associate hornist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and director of the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University; Nicolas Tzavaras, cellist of the Shanghai String Quartet and professor at Montclair State University; violist Anthea Kreston, grand prize-winner in the Concert Artists Gild Competition; and UD faculty pianist Julie Nishimura.

A free public master class will be held from 1:25-2:30 p.m., May 12, in the Amy E. du Pont Music Building.

Tickets—at $17 for the general public, $12 for UD alumni, faculty and staff and senior citizens; and $5 for students—are now on sale at the Bob Carpenter Center and Trabant University Center box offices or through Ticketmaster, telephone (302) 984-2000.

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