Concert Information
The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble 2010-2011 Season:
String Quartet Century, Oct 21 & 25
Conversation Pieces, Dec 9 & 13
Root Causes, Jan 20 & 24
Celebrating Youth: Janáček’s Mládi, April 14 & 18
Viaggio Italiano, June 2 & 6
1. STRING QUARTET CENTURY
October 21 Mill Valley | October 25 San Francisco
String Quartet Century features string quartet masterpieces of the 20th century by two Hungarian composers — György Ligeti and Bela Bartók — as well as the world premiere of a new quartet by American composer Carl Schimmel. Written over the course of a century, each of these intricate works inhabits an expressive world of its own.
Bela Bartók • Quartet for Strings, No. 2, Opus 17
Carl Schimmel • Quartet for Strings, No. 2 WORLD PREMIERE
Ligeti • Quartet for Strings No. 2, Opus 21
2. CONVERSATION PIECES
December 9 Mill Valley | December 13 San Francisco
In Conversation Pieces, Left Coast investigates musical dialogues, as Schumann’s imagined characters, Eusebius and Florestan, present contrasting points of view in the composer’s piano quartet, and viola and bass muse about the past in Sándor Veress’s Memento. A new work by Left Coast composition contest winner Steven Snowden addresses nine questions from the devil, while Failing showcases Left Coast’s virtuoso double-bassist Michel Taddei as he simultaneously narrates and plays.
Steven Snowden • The Devil’s Nine Questions • WINNER OF THE 2010 LEFT COAST COMPOSER PRIZE
Veress • Memento for Viola and Double Bass
Tom Johnson • Failing: A Very Difficult Piece for String Bass
Schumann • Quartet for Piano and Strings in E-flat major, Opus 47
3. ROOT CAUSES
January 20 Mill Valley | January 24 San Francisco
Root Causes spotlights four composers who have been particularly successful at fusing roots and concert music. Dvořák was inspired by the folk music of Europe and North America. His exquisite Piano Trio in F minor is performed alongside diverse works: a jazz-influenced trio by John Musto, a sacred song by Bloch, and new arrangements of popular songs by Left Coast’s Kurt Rohde.
John Musto • Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello
Bloch • Abodah for Violin and Piano
Dvořák • Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello in F minor, Opus 65
Kurt Rohde • Four Remixes for Piano Trio WORLD PREMIERE
4. CELEBRATING YOUTH: JANÁČEK’S MLÁDI
April 14 Mill Valley | April 18 San Francisco
At the age of 70, Leoš Janáček wrote a woodwind sextet entitled Mládi, or Youth. We hear this rarely performed masterpiece, a reminiscence of the composer’s boyhood, alongside new companion works by San Francisco composers Beth Custer and Hyo-shin Na.
Beth Custer • New Work WORLD PREMIERE
Hyo-shin Na • New Work WORLD PREMIERE (commissioned with support from the Elaine and Richard Fohr Foundation)
Janáček • Mládi
5. VIAGGIO ITALIANO
June 2 Mill Valley | June 6 San Francisco
Left Coast presents Viaggio Italiano, a concert informed by Italian perspectives. Brion, by Harold Meltzer, was inspired by the architectural details and unexpected traces of bright primary colors in a cemetery near Venice. The program also includes the world premiere performance of a sextet by Italian-born composer Luciano Chessa. His new work is a musical reflection on Peralta House, a Bay Area historical landmark. In addition, Left Coast presents an 18th-century piece with cross-cultural implications — the “Fandango” Quintet of Luigi Boccherini, an Italian composer who spent many years as an expatriate in Madrid after moving there in 1761.
Luciano Chessa • New Work • WORLD PREMIERE (commissioned with support from American Composers Forum)
Harold Meltzer; Brion, Sextet for Guitar, Mandolin, Winds, and Strings • WEST COAST PREMIERE
Boccherini • Quintet for Guitar and Strings
ALL PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
Concert Information Line: 415.642-8054 ChMusic@dslextreme.com
Mailing Address:The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble 196 Ripley St.SF, CA 94110
Venue Information
The Green Room
San Francisco War Memorial Performing Arts Center
401 Van Ness Ave., SF, CA (Second Floor above Herbst Theater)
Tix prices: $15/$20
142 Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, CA 94941tix info: 415.383.9600
www.142throckmortontheatre.com
SEASON TICKETS & FLEX TICKETSSeason tickets are $95, or $65 for students and seniors. “Flex” tickets, in packs of 5, are $95.
Tickets at the door are $20, or $15 students/seniors. Please send season ticket orders with check payable to: The Chamber Music Partnership, Inc., 196 Ripley Street, San Francisco CA 94110.
Directions to the Green Room The SF Veterans War Memorial building, 401 Van Ness Ave. at McAllister St., is across the street from City Hall on Van Ness. The Green Room is on the 2nd Floor, (upstairs from Herbst Theater). Muni service: 42, 47, and 49. To come via freeway from East Bay or South Bay, follow signs to 101 North, which will put you on Van Ness Ave. From the North, take the Golden Gate Bridge, follow signs to Lombard, then take Lombard to Van Ness Avenue. Street parking is usually available on Monday nights, or you can pay to park and any of numerous lots in the Civic Center area.
Directions to Throckmorton Theatre 142 Throckmorton Theatre is in downtown Mill Valley at Throckmorton Avenue and Madronna Street. From 101 North, take the CA-1 North exit towards Mill Valley/Stinson Beach, and go 0.1 mile. Continue on CA-1; go 0.8 mile. Continue on Almonte Blvd and go 0.4 mile. Continue for about 2 miles on Miller Ave. Turn right on Throckmorton. From 101 South, take the E. Blithedale Ave/CA-131/Tiburon Blvd. exit and go .2 mile. Turn right on E. Blithedale and go about 2 miles, then turn left on Throckmorton Ave and go .2 miles. For more information visit www.142ThrockmortonTheatre.com