05:30 AM
The Seasons is presenting rare, infrequently performed, treats, featuring the tonal blending of Melissa Shiel's shimmering voice with the warmth of Joseph Brooks's clarinet — joined together with a 3-course dinner that takes its cues from our musical journey through the geography of 19th Century Europe.
For starters, we journey back to Romantic Germany and to a relatively unknown work that features this instrument pairing; Louis Spohr's 6 part work for Voice, Clarinet, and Piano.
Next we explore France's rich contribution of this era with the vocal and clarinet works of Ernest Chausson featuring equal parts passion and delicacy. Other works by relatively obscure, but brilliant and beautiful, late romantic French composers complete the French course of our dinner & music
The program concludes with Mozart's voice/clarinet combinations. As one of the first composers that developed music specifically for the rich romanticism of its tone and timbre, Mozart foreshadows the romanticism of the late 19th Century.
The Seasons Bistro & Gallery and chef, Patrick Levad, promises a sumptuous feast of edible delicacies and locally-sourced beverages to match the rich tonal nuances of the concert. The menu will feature a "starter" plate drawn from Germany, an entrée choice based in French cuisine, and a delightful Austrian-influenced dessert.
Romancing the Tone with Melissa Shiel, mezzo soprano; Joseph Brooks, clarinet; and Anne Schilperoort, piano.