InConcert Sierra’s new season includes Vienna Boys Choir
INCONCERT SIERRA HAS CREATED AN EXTRAORDINARY 2016-17 season, which includes bringing the world-famous Vienna Boys Choir back to Grass Valley on November 20.
The Vienna-based choir of 100 choristers from 30 different nations between the ages of 10 and 14 visited Grass Valley in 2010. Divided into four touring choirs, the group visits virtually all European countries, as well as Asia, Australia and the Americas.
InConcert Sierra’s new season also features an acclaimed string quartet; “Piano Four Hands,” a type of piano duet in which two players perform on a single piano; and a cellist and brass ensemble. Pianist Sam Haywood also returns.
■ The Alexander String Quartet with Robert Greenberg, Oct. 16 The Alexander String Quartet is noted among the world’s premiere ensembles and widely admired for its interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart and Shostakovich. They are joined by composer-pianist-musicologist Robert Greenberg, famous for his lectures on The Learning Company’s “Great Courses.”
■ Sierra Master Chorale & Orchestra, Dec. 17-18 Ken Hardin, conductor
■ ZOFO, Piano Four Hands, Jan. 17, 2017 This Grammy-nominated, prize-winning Steinway Artist Ensemble—Eva-Marie Zimmermann and Keisuke Nakagoshi—is one of only a handful of duos worldwide devoted exclusively to piano duets and is blazing a bold new path. ZOFO, is shorthand for 20-finger orchestra (ZO=20 and FO=finger orchestra).
■ Cellist Peter Wyrick, Feb. 19 Wyrick is the Associate Principal cellist of the San Francisco Symphony. An alumni now, he entered the Juilliard School at age 8 and was one of the last students of the famed Leonard Rose. At age 18, his professional recordings with Earl Wild and Rudolf Firkušný received a Grammy nomination.
■ TenThing, A Brass Ensemble, March 19 Young Norwegian trumpet sensation Tine Thing Helseth leads tenThing (pronounced “tenting”), an all-female brass ensemble, in unique arrangements of favorites such as Bizet, Grieg, Mozart and Piazzolla.
■ Tintabulations, A Handbell Choir, April 16 From Reno, Tintabulations Handbell Ensemble is a diverse group of ringers committed to the art of English Handbell ringing.
■ Pianist Sam Haywood April 30 The superlative British pianist, who performed alongside Joshua Bell last October, said he thoroughly enjoyed his stay and he’s coming back. A consummate pianist, Haywood has performed to critical acclaim in many of the world’s major concert halls.
■ Sierra Master Chorale & Orchestra, May 21 & 23 Ken Hardin, conductor
All concerts are at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grass Valley. For more information, visit InConcertSierra.org.
(Photo: Lucas Beck)