Springfield Symphony Orchestra Announces Virtual Spring 2021 Chamber Concert Series for On Demand Streaming

Springfield, MA – The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce the Spring 2021 Chamber Concert Series, three professionally-filmed, on demand chamber concert events to enjoy safely from the comfort of home (or anywhere). These 45 to 50-minute concerts were recorded in early March at the studios of Focus Springfield, and all three programs will showcase the artistry and versatility of three SSO ensembles:

• a string quartet with Masako Yanagita, Violin; Marsha Harbison, Violin; Delores Thayer, Viola; and Boris Kogan, Cello
• a string trio with Beth Welty, Violin; Noralee Walker, Viola; and Joel Wolfe, Cello
• a percussion trio with Martin Kluger, Nathan Lassell, and Robert McEwan

Each concert will premiere online at a specific date and time and will be available anytime through May 21st for on-demand streaming at the convenience of our patrons.

Concert 1 – Premieres April 10th, 2021, 5:00 pm (streaming through May 21st)
Featuring movements from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 3, and String Quartet in
C-minor, Op. 18, No. 4; the Intermezzo for String Trio by Zoltan Kodály; the first-ever performance of Sudoku 75, an original composition inspired by the popular puzzles by the SSO’s Principal Timpanist Martin Kluger; and Kluger’s percussion arrangement of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 4 in Eb Major, Op. 7.

Concert 2 – Premieres April 24th, 2021, 5:00 pm (streaming through May 21st)
Featuring the haunting strains of the third movement of the String Quartet No. 2 by Alexander Borodin (familiar to some from the 1953 Broadway musical Kismet); a percussion arrangement of Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum from Claude Debussy’s suite Children’s Corner; two movements from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s String Duo No. 1 in G Major for violin and viola, K. 423; Eric Sammut’s marimba variations on Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango; the fourth movement from Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op. 135; and the first movement (Meccanico) of Trio Per Uno by Nebojša Jovan Živković.

Concert 3 – Premieres May 8th, 2021, 5:00 pm (streaming through May 21st)
Featuring the third movement from Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 8, Op. 59 No.2 and two movements from his String Trio in E-flat Major, Op.3; Brush Up for snare drum by Rick Dior; two movements from Ernő Dohnányi’s Serenade, Op. 10; Cider Jug and The Conquering Legions of Rome by John S. Pratt; the second (Contemplativo) and third movement (Molto energico) of Trio Per Uno by Nebojša Jovan Živković; and the fun, jazzy, Promenade (Walking the Dog) by George Gershwin, first featured in the 1937 Astaire/Rogers film Shall We Dance.

Tickets for this virtual series are $25.00 for each concert, or $60.00 for the series of three (a $15 savings) and are on sale on the Springfield Symphony Orchestra website – springfieldsymphony.org. More information about the concerts, including full repertoire, program notes and musician bios are also available on the site.

Through the Card to Culture program, individuals who are EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare card holders may get free tickets to these virtual concerts. Those interested can contact Education Director Kirsten Lipkens at klipkens@springfieldsymphony.org.

The SSO is grateful to have received robust support for the Spring 2021 Chamber Concert Series from our community partners at Baystate Health (Premiere Series Sponsor), St. Germain Investment Management (Presenting Series Sponsor), Health New England (Presenting Series Sponsor); and Bank of America Private Bank (Supporting Series Sponsor). Individual concert support comes from Big Y and E Ink (April 10th), the Gladys W. Cole Charitable Trust and United Personnel (April 24th), and Teed Capital Management of Raymond James and Disability Management Services (May 8th). The Premiere Season Supporter is MassMutual Foundation, with additional season support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

About the Springfield Symphony Orchestra
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra has been part of the cultural landscape of Western Massachusetts since 1944. With the professional orchestra at its core, the SSO’s mission is to enrich our community through the transformative power of live music and innovative education. For more information, visit SpringfieldSymphony.org.