A noted Chinese string quartet visits UB as part of its 20th anniversary celebration.By Bill Raffel, WBFO
Buffalo, NY – Chamber musicians from opposite ends of the earth are performing in Buffalo this week. Good morning. I'm Bill Raffel with Music Notes
The Academy of Saint Martin of the Fields is known for its many recordings under the baton of Sir Neville Marriner. And from the Sir, you know the orchestra is English. But did you know the academy also has a chamber ensemble specializing in larger chamber works, from quintets to octets? They perform without a conductor, but the Academy's artistic director Kenneth Sillito effectively leads from the First Violin Chair.
They'll conclude the Buffalo Chamber Music Society's season tomorrow (Tuesday, 4/22) at 8?p.m., with a preconcert talk at 7:15. And since the demand for tickets was so great, the performance will move from the Mary Seaton Room to the Main Auditorium of Kleinhans Music Hall.
Meanwhile, the University at Buffalo will welcome a string quartet with roots in China. The Shanghai Quartet is featured in this work, Franz Schubert's Death and the Maiden.
Violinist Weigang Li is a founding member of the quartet. See the Shanghai Quartet close the Slee Visiting Artist Series Friday (4/25) at 8?p.m. in Slee Hall on UB's North Campus.
The Buffalo Philharmonic will have a native of Japan on the podium. Eiji Oue was the orchestra's assistant conductor in the late 80's before heading the down the Thruway to become Music Director of the Erie Philharmonic, then becoming Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra in 1995, before stepping down last year.
His return to Buffalo features Beethoven's energetic Seventh Symphony, Ravel's Mother Goose Suite, and Allison Eldredge as Soloist in Lalo's Cello Concert. Performances take place Saturday at 8?p.m. and Sunday at 2:30?p.m. in Kleinhans, with preconcert talks an hour earlier.
Organist Mark Pacoe gives a free half-hour recital Friday (4/25) at 12:30 in Saint Paul's Cathedral.
A number of UB Student ensembles are in concert this week: the Contemporary Ensemble Monday (4/21), the Choir and Chorus on Wednesday (4/23), and the Symphonic Band on Thursday (4/24). All begin at 8?p.m. in Slee Hall. New Chamber Music will be featured Tuesday (4/22) at 8?p.m. in the Baird Recital Hall. And the UB Jazz Ensemble performs Sunday (4/27) at 3?p.m. in Slee. All these performances are free.
Finally, the Arts Academy Elementary Choir performs for the Friends of Vienna, Sunday (4/27) at 3:30?p.m. in the Unity Church at the corner of Delaware and Auburn.