This preview has been provided by the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival.

The Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival kicks off its 3rd full season in Raleigh and 18th season overall with the Season Opening Extravaganza on October 8 at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church. Festival mainstays Thomas Sauer and Marcy Rosen join festival artistic director Ara Gregorian in performance of Beethoven’s Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70 No. 1 “Ghost,” Dvořák’s Sonatina in G Major, Op. 100, and Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D Minor, Op. 49.

“The Season Opening Extravaganza is not-to-be-missed,” said Gregorian. “Our guest artists will thrill the audience and I can think of no better program to kick off our season.”

Cellist Marcy Rosen was a founding member of the world-renowned Mendelssohn String Quartet and artistic director of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival. She has appeared on stage throughout Europe, Asia, South America and in all fifty of the United States and has collaborated with the Juilliard, Emerson and Orion string quartets.

Pianist Thomas Sauer has performed at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels. He has performed the complete cycle of Beethoven’s works for cello and piano with Colin Carr and has recorded for the MSR Classics, Musical Heritage Society, Centaur and Arabesque labels.

Violinist Ara Gregorian made his New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and his debut as soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra. He has appeared in cities throughout the world including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tel Aviv and Helsinki, and is a member of the Cooperstown Quartet.

The Season Opening Extravaganza is the first of four Classic Series concerts, the festival’s flagship concert experience, featuring repertoire firmly in the canon of chamber music and highlighting the traditional concert experience. Four Seasons also presents two Chamber Music Dressed Down concerts as part of the 2017-2018 season subscription. These intimate concerts in parlor-like settings are designed to transform the listener’s experience with discussion from the stage and access to the musicians during and after the performances.

“Chamber Music Dressed Down is the audience’s opportunity to experience a live performance up close,” said Gregorian. “People can come dressed down and be in the middle of all that is going on.”

There are six concerts in the Raleigh season ticket package, which includes four Classic Series concerts and two Chamber Music Dressed Down concerts. Tickets are available as part of this season ticket package or individually.

“I look forward to a great season in Raleigh,” said Gregorian. “We will bring world-renowned musicians throughout the year and present chamber music masterpieces that our audiences will love.”

For ticket and other information, contact the festival at fourseasons@ecu.edu or 252-328-6019. The Raleigh subscription season dates are below, visit www.ecu.edu/fourseasons for the complete schedule of events and to purchase tickets. The festival also presents concerts throughout the year in Greenville and is in residence at East Carolina University.

Raleigh Concert Season

Season Opening Extravaganza: October 8, 3:00 p.m.; Hayes Barton United Methodist Church

Chamber Music Monuments: November 19, 3:00 p.m.; Hayes Barton United Methodist Church

The Intimate Brahms: February 3, 5:00 p.m.; Saint Mary’s School

Cooperstown Quartet: February 18, 3:00 p.m.; Hayes Barton United Methodist Church

Quartet for the End of Time: March 15, 7:30 p.m.; All Saints Chapel

Thrilling Season Finale: April 8, 3:00 p.m.; Hayes Barton United Methodist Church