Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota presents
Akropolis Reed Quintet
February 20 and 21 • Historic Asolo Theater
Winners of six national chamber music prizes, this cutting-edge ensemble performs an innovative repertoire with vitality, passion and precision.
“All of the music is remarkable for the sheer joy that it elicits from the exceptional ARQ musicians. The quintet plays with imagination, infallible musicality, and huge vitality.” –Fanfare Magazine
“The group, who played from memory while subtly changing relative positions in response to the interplay of the parts, elevated precision to passion with their brilliantly tight performance.” –Oregon ArtsWatch
(Sarasota, Florida) Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota’s 20th anniversary Recital Series continues with the Akropolis Reed Quintet, February 20, 7:30 p.m., and February 21, 7:30 p.m., at the Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Acclaimed for its technically brilliant performances and adventurous repertoire, the Quintet’s program will include works by Debussy, French Baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau, and a work written for Akropolis in 2013 by the young composer Joel Puckett. Ticket prices range from $25 to $45 and are available at 941-360-7399 or www.artistseriesconcerts.org. Student tickets available at the door.
Hailed for its “imagination, infallible musicality, and huge vitality” (Fanfare Magazine), the Akropolis Reed Quintet (Tim Gocklin, oboe; Kari Dion, clarinet; Matt Landry, saxophone; Andrew Koeppe, bass clarinet; and Ryan Reynolds, bassoon), performs an innovative repertoire with unbridled enthusiasm and acclaimed precision. Founded in 2009 at the University of Michigan and the first ensemble of its kind to win the Fischoff Gold Medal in 2014, Akropolis has quickly achieved renown for its energized and engaging performances across a variety of musical eras and styles. Deeply invested in fortifying the reed quintet as a fully-established ensemble type, in 2013 Akropolis created the first reed quintet consortium of 13 quintets from three continents and has also has commissioned more than 25 innovative new works from composers around the world. Fully committed to educational outreach and to fortifying the next generation of music mavericks, in 2013, Akropolis created the Fall Education Tour, visiting 10 schools in Michigan serving underprivileged youth or under-funded arts programs. The group also toured Illinois and Indiana on the Fischoff Educators Tour in 2015, collaborating with local school reading programs to musically re-enact a children’s book, “The Best Story” by Eileen Spinelli. For updates and more information about Akropolis Reed Quintet, visit www.akropolisquintet.com.
Since 1996, Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota has presented an ever-expanding annual season of concerts by globally renowned and celebrated emerging artists. The 20th-anniversary season includes six concerts in its “Classical Recital Series,” five concerts in its “Pop Series,” four concerts in its “Special Performances” series, three “Soiree Series” concerts, three “Lunch, Look and Listen” concerts and three concerts in its North Port Performing Arts series. Many of the concerts are presented in multiple performances.
For more information about the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota’s 2015-2016 season, visit www.artistseriesconcerts.org or call 941-306-1202.
The 2015-2016 Season at a Glance
Classical Recital Series
Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Asolo Theater; 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Tickets at 941-360-7399 or www.artistseriesconcerts.org.
- Trio Celeste: Violinist Iryna Krechkovsky, cellist Ross Gasworth, and pianist Kevin Kwan Loucks combine to form an exciting, dynamic and intelligent ensemble. They are each strong instrumentalists in their own right and have what only the best groups have; an understanding of each other’s emotions, the ability to play with both power and subtlety, and what can best be described as a spark. March 5, 7:30 p.m., and March 6, 7:30 p.m.
- Amit Peled is an Israeli-American cellist and virtuoso called a “larger than life presence on stage” (The Washington Post). Peled, a musician of profound artistry and charismatic stage presence, is known as one of the most exciting instrumentalists on the concert stage today. At 6’5″ tall (he was once a basketball player), Peled often surprises audiences with the ways he breaks down barriers between performers and the public, making classical music more accessible to wider audiences. April 9, 7:30 p.m., and April 10, 7:30 p.m.
- 20th Year Retrospective Celebration: As a close to the 20th anniversary season, Artist Series Concerts is bringing back favorites from past years. The performers that Sarasota audiences have loved before will be here again to entertain, celebrate and inspire. May 28 and 29, 7:30 p.m.
Pop Series
At the Historic Asolo Theater; 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Tickets at 941-360-7399 or www.artistseriesconcerts.org.
- QuinTango, a touring quintet of two violins, cello, bass and piano, brings a century’s worth of tango repertoire to the concert stage with sizzling musicality and captivating narrative style. Winner of two consecutive WAMMIES, QuinTango is the only tango music group to have given a command performance at The White House. QuinTango has been heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” CNN, and network television in both the United States and Costa Rica. When QuinTango made its debut at Charleston’s Piccolo Festival, critic Robert Jones wrote exuberantly that “their concerts packed the place and sent the customers home tango crazy.” April 30, 7:30 p.m., and May 1, 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.
- “My Favorite Things,” Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein, featuring acclaimed soloists Mara Bonde, soprano, Katherine Pracht, mezzo soprano, Aaron Blake, tenor, Marcus DeLoach, baritone, and the Gloria Musicae Singers: May 7:30 p.m., and May 8, 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.
Lunch, Look and Listen
One-hour concerts at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at 12:15 p.m. At Michael’s On East Ballroom, 1212 East Avenue South, Sarasota. Tickets at 941-306-1202.
- Miami Guitar Trio: February 18.
- Gulfshore Trio: Reiko Niiya, violin; Susannah Kelly, cello; William Dawson, piano: March 17.
Soiree Series
Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. and Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. At the Weisenborne/Fischer residence. Call for address. Tickets at 941-306-1202.
- Bob McDonald singing songs made famous by Broadway leading man John Raitt: March 27 & 28.
North Port Performing Arts Center Series
Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. At the North Port Performing Arts Center, 6400 W. Price Blvd., North Port. Tickets at 941-306-1202.
- Dick Hyman in Concert. A solo performance by the legendary Emmy Award-winning pianist and composer, renowned for his 50-year career as one of America’s most prolific and versatile jazz musicians: February 21.
- “My Favorite Things: The Music of Rogers and Hammerstein.” Featuring the Qol Quartet, (Johanna Fincher, Robyn Rocklein, Adam Bielamowicz, and Christopher Holloway), and the Gloria Musicae Singers, directed by Joseph Holt: March 6.
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota was formed in 1996 as the Artist Series of Sarasota. The group is a non-profit corporation based in Sarasota, FL, that prides itself on presenting several major national and international varieties of concert, opera, orchestral, Broadway and film performances throughout their season. The majority of the performances are staged at the restored Historic Asolo Theater at The Ringling.
Photos courtesy of the artists.
