“The crown jewel of chamber music festivals on Long Island—arguably anywhere on the East Coast—opens its 34th season July 30 with celebrity narration by Alan Alda,” writes Steve Parks in Wednesday’s (6/7) Newsday (N.Y.). “Alda, longtime supporter of the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, reads excerpts of letters exchanged by Johannes Brahms starting in 1853 with Robert and Clara Schumann. The narration tells their story of friendship, love and desperation due to mental illness, amplified in their music: Robert’s Romances for Flute and Piano, Clara’s Three Romances for Violin and Piano and a Brahms piano quartet and two other selections. The concert, ‘Brahms & the Schumanns: Love, Genius, Madness,’ also features Marya Martin, virtuoso flutist and the festival’s founding director…. This summer’s … highlights [include] the world premiere Aug. 9 of Elizabeth Brown’s ‘Island Nocturnes,’ commissioned for the festival; Vivaldi’s ‘Storm at Sea’ concerto in a free outdoor event Aug. 2; works by Debussy, Ravel and Philip Glass performed at the Parrish Art Museum amid Clifford Ross’ ‘Light | Waves’ exhibit; and in the Aug. 27 finale, Pulitzer winner Kevin Puts’ ‘Seven Seascapes.’ Guitarist Stephane Wrembel headlines the ‘Bach & Django’ concert Aug. 18, also featuring Emerson String Quartet cellist Paul Watkins, at Channing Daughters Winery’s sculpture garden.”
Posted June 13, 2017
