Midsummer’s Music wraps up their second program – Haunting Recollections – tonight at the Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor.

 

As I write this, Jim Berkenstock is addressing the audience. This beautiful gallery, in a converted barn, offers excellent acoustics. Tonight we have the gentle sound of falling rain accompanying our musicians. This is a perfect way to end this program. In fact, this program was performed in three barns and has been renamed to “Barnegie Hall.”

Last night we performed at Sister Bay Historical Society’s Corner of the Past, again in a barn. The entire property is rich with historic outbuildings and the barn was no exception. It was fun to see our musicians enter the barn for the first time. Not sure what to expect, they were instantly smiling at the unique antiques and remarked how wonderful the acoustics were. It was a great evening and we look forward to performing there again.

Friday night’s concert was at the Hardy Gallery in Ephraim. While we can’t officially call it a barn, it’s a restored warehouse and has the look and feel of a barn. The Hardy has sentimental meaning to us since that is the very first venue we ever performed in. The weather was perfect and we were able to watch the sunset during intermission.

The music for this program was outstanding. Flutist Jean Berkenstock was absolute perfection. During the Schulhoff Concertino she alternated between flute and piccolo without missing a beat. Beautiful! And bassist Jason Heath went all out during this piece – a rare opportunity for the bass to be featured. Violist Sally Chisholm gave another exceptional performance. It’s so nice to have them all back with Midsummer’s.

Mozart’s Quintet in A Major featured clarinetist Todd Cope whose animated style adds so much to the performance. Our string quartet – violinists David Perry and Stephanie Preucil, cellist Walter Preucil, and violist Sally Chisholm – was fantastic. Mozart would have been so proud to hear his music

played so beautifully. In fact, I’m listening to our talented ensemble perform this piece at this very moment!

The finale was Franz Lachner’s Nonet in F Major. All I can say is, “Wow!” It’s a rare opportunity to have so many musicians on stage at one time – a sort of mini-orchestra. This piece featured flutist Jean Berkenstock, oboist Tim Sawyier, clarinetist Todd Cope, bassoonist Jim Berkenstock, hornist John Fairfield, violinist David Perry, violist Sally Chisholm, bassist Jason Heath, and cellist Walter Preucil. Phenomenal is the only word I can use to describe this performance.  And, I’m happy that I’ll be hearing/seeing it again in just a few minutes.

Our next program – French Affections – starts on Thursday, June 23 at Shepherd of the Bay in Ellison Bay and features the music of Turina, Gieseking, and Saint-Saens. For more information, call 920-854-7088 or visit www.midsummerSmusic.com.