Two piano quintets by Louis Vierne and Charles-Marie Widor are exhilarating and passionate works full of the kind of color, virtuosity, and intensity for which their organ works are widely known.
Midsummer’s Music is a leader among chamber music organizations in presenting works by lesser-known composers, often alongside household names like Bach and Brahms. With its 19th Century French Rapture program, Midsummer’s puts the spotlight firmly on two French composers, who are household names in certain quarters—but only in certain quarters.
Louis Vierne and Charles-Marie Widor are true giants among those who are organists or fans of organ music. They were spectacular virtuosos on their instruments in 19th century Paris, and their great contributions to the organ repertoire continue to be heard in traditional church services, among other places. Although these two composers are inextricably associated with organ music, they both wrote substantially in other genres, including chamber music. Vierne’s Piano Quintet in C Minor, Op. 42, and Widor’s Piano Quintet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 7 – both written for two violins, viola, cello, and piano – are exhilarating and passionate works full of the kind of color, virtuosity, and intensity for which their organ works are widely known.
The program’s musicians are David Perry and Suzanne Beia, violins; Allyson Fleck, viola; Paula Kosower, cello; and Jeannie Yu, piano.
Performances are 7:00pm, August 23, at Hope United Church of Christ in Sturgeon Bay, sponsored by Sandy Zingler; 7:00pm, August 24, at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor, sponsored by Gene & Carmen Witt; 7:00pm, August 25, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Ephraim; and 7:00pm, August 26, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sister Bay, sponsored by Jerry Randall & Mary Hauser. On August 26 at 5:30pm, Midsummer’s Executive Director and Assistant Artistic Director Allyson Fleck, DMA, will host a Coffee Talk program – a free, informal presentation on music topics – titled “Music Theory & Appreciation 101” at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
A complete 2023 summer brochure can be downloaded at www.midsummersmusic.com.
Tickets are $38 for adults, $17 for students, and children 12 and under are free with an adult. Premium prices apply for special events. Flex-packs of six tickets for the price of five tickets are also available. Tickets can be ordered at www.midsummersmusic.com or by phone at 920-854-7088.
Midsummer’s Music was co-founded in 1990 by Jim and Jean Berkenstock, long-time Door County summer residents and principal orchestral players with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. What began as two concerts among friends has become one of the Midwest’s most anticipated chamber music series, bringing thousands of chamber music enthusiasts from around the globe to the magical Door County Peninsula.
For more information visit www.midsummersmusic.com.
High-resolution photos can be downloaded at https://www.midsummersmusic.com/photos/.
David Perry (credit Heidi Hodges): https://midsummersmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/David-Perry-Violin.jpg
Suzanne Beia: https://www.midsummersmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/suzane_beia.png
Allyson Fleck: https://www.midsummersmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/img_3364-2-cropped.jpg
Paula Kosower: https://www.midsummersmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Paula-Kosower_largeweb.jpg
Jeannie Yu (credit Heidi Hodges): https://midsummersmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Jeannie-Yu-Piano.jpg
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For Calendar Listings:
19th Century French Rapture
Quintet in C Minor, Op. 42 Louis Vierne
Quintet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 7 Charles-Marie Widor
August 23, 7:00 pm: Hope United Church of Christ, Sturgeon Bay
August 24, 7:00 pm: Donald & Carol Kress Pavilion, Egg Harbor
August 25, 7:00 pm: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Ephraim
August 26, 7:00 pm: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Sister Bay
Splendid Stories
Four Two-Bit Contraptions Jan Bach
En Saga, Op. 9 (Gregory Barrett arr.) Jean Sibelius
Quintet in G Major, Op. 77 Antonín Dvořák
August 27, 5:00 pm: Woodwalk Gallery, Egg Harbor
August 29, 7:00 pm: Björklunden, Baileys Harbor
August 30, 7:00 pm: Mutchler Residence Salon Concert, Sturgeon Bay
August 31, 7:00 pm: Donald & Carol Kress Pavilion, Egg Harbor
September 3, 3:00 pm: The Clearing Folk School, Ellison Bay
Celebratory Fireworks!
Piano Quartet in D Minor, Op. 25 Dora Pejacevic
Café Music Paul Schoenfeld
Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 13 Richard Strauss
September 1, 7:00 pm: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Ephraim
September 2, 7:00 pm: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Sister Bay
September 4, 3:00 pm: Labor Day Gala, Björklunden, Baileys Harbor
Beneath the Waves CD Release Concert and Reception
Eric Lewis and the Griffon String Quartet
September 9, 7:00pm: Gould Theater at Northern Sky Theater, Fish Creek