GRANVILLE, Ohio— Denison University’s acclaimed Vail Series presents its season-opening concert, which features an exciting new generation of classical musicians; the remarkable orchestra A Far Cry and outstanding cellist Matt Haimovitz. The concert will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, in Swasey Chapel (200 Chapel Drive). A limited number of tickets may be offered for sale to the general public at $15 if space allows. Details will be posted at www.vailseries.org or call 740-587-6557.
“This season we will hear from young innovators and legendary masters,” says Lorraine Wales, director of the Vail Series. “We will experience the joy of the timeless great classical repertoire reinterpreted by a new and contemporary approach, and transported by sounds from the rich musical heritage of our collective cultures and experiences.”
Astonishingly talented, A Far Cry was founded in 2007 by a congenial group of 17 young professional musicians, self-identified as “the Criers.” This accomplished orchestra is self-directed, with a series of rotating leadership both on and off stage. Based in Boston at the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, A Far Cry also is committed to empowering young musicians through an educational partnership with the New England Conservatory.
Musical pioneer Haimovitz brings his fresh interpretations of classical music to venues from concert halls to coffee houses, and his prodigious passion for music propels him to wherever his audiences are. His forte is found in the wizardry of his dazzling cello solos. Haimovitz crosses musical genres easily, from classical to contemporary to jazz, and the exhilarating gusto with which he plays reflects aspects of all three. His zest for music is also reflected in his dedication to mentoring young cellists at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music in Montreal.
The evening’s ambitious program begins with Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s “Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten.” Written in honor of the renowned English composer, “Cantus” is a canon based on pitches of a single A minor scale. It is followed by John Corigliano’s “Fancy on a Bach Air” for solo cello. Closing the first part of the concert is Haydn’s magnificent “Concerto in C Major for Cello and Orchestra,” a highly spirited yet melodic piece.
The concert concludes with Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings in C Major, Opus 48.” Tchaikovsky wrote about the circa 1880 serenade, “I love this Serenade terribly, and fervently hope that it might soon see the light of day.” On the second page of the score, he noted: “The larger number of players in the string orchestra, the more this shall be in accordance with the author’s wishes.” The audience at Swasey Chapel will certainly appreciate the spirited “Finale” as the orchestra pushes the acoustics of the space in tribute to the composer.
Endowed by a generous gift from the late Mary and Foster McGaw in honor of Jeanne Vail, class of 1946, the Vail Series brings to campus the world’s premier performers, as well as new musical talents, enriching the artistic experience of the entire Denison Community.
Calendar Listing:
CALENDAR LISTING, Denison University, Granville— Vail Series Concert: A Far Cry orchestra with cellist Matt Haimovitz at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, in Swasey Chapel (200 Chapel Drive). A limited number of tickets may be offered for sale to the general public at $15 if space allows. Details will be posted at www.vailseries.org or call 740-587-6557.
About Denison:
Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.
