| Published July 21st, 2021 | Gold Coast Chamber Players return to the stage in September | | Submitted by Pamela Freund-Striplen | | Photo provided | Named Best Concert Series of the East Bay in 2021 by Diablo Magazine, the Gold Coast Chamber Players return to the stage on Sept. 18 with a series of five concerts. Each performance is held at the Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. with a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. Tickets include an option to watch the performances virtually.
"Spheres of Influence" on Sept. 18 kicks off the season with a colorful program of music by Debussy, Ravel, Shinji Eshima, and Ching-chu Hu for strings. San Francisco Symphony members Principal Second Violin Dan Carlson, Assistant Principal cellist Amos Yang and bassist Charles Chandler are joined by violinist Dian Zhang, and violists Joy Fellow, and Pamela Freund-Striplen.
"Seriously Mozart" on Jan. 22, 2022 celebrates some of Mozart's late chamber music. Violin Sonata K.454, Piano Trio K.542, and Piano Quartet, K. 478 offer a program that is playful, elegant, and dramatic. Pianist Julio Elizalde makes his Gold Coast debut when he joins violinist Axel Strauss, violist Pamela Freund-Striplen, and cellist Jennifer Culp.
As part of the Bay Area Music Consortium, Gold Coast Chamber Players present "Culture, Crisis, and Creativity" on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 with the Horszowski Trio. Described as "the most compelling American group to come on the scene" by the New Yorker, the ensemble performs Piano Trios by Smetana, Clarke, and Babajanian.
"Caliente!" on March 19, 2022 is a sizzling exploration of Spanish favorites featuring San Francisco Opera's principal clarinetist Jose Gonzalez Granero. An eclectic mix of music by Turina, Granados, De Falla, with original compositions for clarinet by Gonzalez Granero offer a dynamic range of Spanish music. Violinists Jennifer Cho and Dian Zhang, and cellist Peter Myers from the San Francisco Opera Orchestra are joined by violist Pamela Freund-Striplen and pianist Julie Nishimura.
Completing the season is "Dvorak's America {Reimagined}" on May 14, 2022. GCCP's virtual "Dvorak's America" was so popular that it has been reimagined for the concert stage. "Dvorak's America {Reimagined}" explores the impact of spirituals and Native American music on Dvorak during his time in America. The Alexander String Quartet, soprano Michele Kennedy, Native American flutist Mary Youngblood, and violist Pamela Freund-Striplen are featured in this program about the interconnectedness of cultures.
Purchase single tickets and subscriptions online at www.GCCPmusic.com or by calling (925) 283-3728. Visit gccpmusic.com to find regular updates about concert offerings, to make donations, and to purchase tickets. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |