This preview has been provided by Mallarmé Chamber Players.
The Mallarmé Chamber Players are presenting two programs in October: the first, a concert for families featuring a musical version of Pinocchio on Saturday, October 5, at 12:30 pm; and secondly String Jam, a Mallarmé series concert on Saturday, October 12, at 8:00 pm.
What do you get when you cross a string quartet, a hammer, some sandpaper, a musical saw, puppets and video footage of original paintings and shadow images? You get PINOCCHIO!, composer Kate Sullivan’s tour de force new musical setting of the well-known Italian tale.
On October 5th, Kirby Horton Hall at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens will be transformed into a magical story-telling theater. Actor Paul Paliyenko will read the narration, a bi-lingual tip of the cap to author Carlo Collodi. He will begin, “C’era una volta, once upon a time….there was…a piece of wood, un pezzo di legno che piangeva e rideva comme un bambino…yes, it laughed and cried like a baby…” and off they will go with the quartet playing eleven short movements, from “The Workshop” to “La Notatta Orribile” (The Terrible Swim) to “Pesce Cane” (The Dog-Fish). Mallarmé musicians will use their instruments to add the meows of cats, the groans of whales and the eerie harmonics of monsters.
PINOCCHIO! is presented in partnership with Sarah P. Duke Gardens, which will offer Nature Storytime at 10:30 am. In addition, High Strung Violins and Guitars will set up an instrument zoo before the performance to give children (and their parents) the opportunity to try various instruments.
A week later on October 12th, Mallarmé will present its second series concert, String Jam, at Casbah in Durham. The performance features renowned, home-grown musicians Jennifer Curtis (violin) and Matthew Slotkin (guitar). They will be joined by cellist Nate Leyland and violist Suzanne Rousso in the Paganini Guitar Quartet No. 8 in A major, as well as works by Radames Gnattali, Mark O’Connor and North Carolina composer Larry Dillon. The Strings and Threads Suite by Mark O’Connor is a lively piece comprising thirteen tunes in various folk styles appearing in a chronological form which represents the evolution of American folk music. The piece includes jigs, reels, bluegrass, blues, ragtime and even some bebop and describes musically how folk music styles hundreds of years apart are interconnected.
This piece, described as “retro rockabilly,” will serve as a natural transition to a jam session with singer/guitarist Dex Romweber, formerly of the Flat Duo Jets. Romweber will pair up with Curtis to present a set of improvised songs that are both poignant and virtuosic.
Alivia’s Food Truck will be on site with food and beverage options.
Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 12:30 PM | PINOCCHIO!
Kirby Horton Hall at Sarah P. Duke Gardens – 420 Anderson Street, Durham
$5 for children | $10 for adults (13 and older)
This program is 50 minutes long and appropriate for children 5-11 and their families.
Instrumental Zoo will start at noon.
PROGRAM
Kate Sullivan – Pinocchio for string quartet, narrator and video
ARTISTS
Emi Hildebrandt and Leah Peroutka – violin
Suzanne Rousso – viola Nate Leyland – cello
Paul Paliyenko – narrator
Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 8:00 PM | STRING JAM
Casbah – 1007 West Main Street, Durham
$20 in advance, $25 at the door | $15 K-12 educators | $5 students
PROGRAM
Lawrence Dillon – Bacchus Chaconne
Radamés Gnattali – Sonata for cello and guitar
Niccolo Paganini – Quartet No. 8 in A major for guitar and string trio
Mark O’Connor – Strings and Threads Suite
ARTISTS
Jennifer Curtis – violin
Matthew Slotkin – guitar
Dex Romweber – guitar/vocals
Suzanne Rousso – viola
Nate Leyland – cello
TICKETS: www.mallarmemusic.org/concerts.html or 919/560-2788
MALLARMÉ CHAMBER PLAYERS 30TH SEASON – Co-produced by George Chandler
ABOUT MALLARMÉ CHAMBER PLAYERS
The Mallarmé Chamber Players are a flexible ensemble of professional musicians based in Durham, North Carolina, whose mission is to enrich the lives of their community through outstanding chamber music. The ensemble distinguishes itself by its innovative educational programs, its commitment to creative collaboration with other organizations, its creation of significant new work and its dedication to serve a diverse population.
Mallarmé annually presents a series of five concerts that features great, diverse, and multidisciplinary chamber music. Mallarmé performs everything from Bach with period instruments to brand new works. In this past year alone, Mallarmé has presented two world premières by composers Gwyneth Walker and Katrina Wreede. In 2010, Mallarmé released a cd on Albany/Videmus records of chamber music by African American composers to great acclaim.
Mallarmé is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. The 2013-14 concert season is made possible in part by grants from the Durham Arts Council’s Annual Arts Fund, the North Carolina Arts Council and Target.
