Sheffield — Lich Gate Concerts will present a program of piano quartets by Mozart, Fauré, and others on Saturday, January 25, in the sunny environs of Sheffield’s Old Parish Church.
The lineup of musicians for Lich Gate concerts varies with the repertoire. The ensemble on the 25th will comprise:
- Artistic Director Jorge Àvila — violin
- Sarah Adams — viola
- Sarah Hewitt-Roth — cello
- Adrienne Kim — piano
Many Lich Gate musicians have extensive Broadway credits, in addition to their many orchestral and chamber ensemble associations. Because they have experience and capabilities outside the realm of classical music, I wrote, in 2022:
With all due respect to the many fine classically trained musicians based in the Berkshires (many of whom are household names on other continents), it must be said that many Broadway pit musicians have skills not commonly found within the ranks of major symphony orchestras. That’s because they spend so much time playing show music in addition to the standard orchestral repertoire familiar to their peers. In addition, many pit musicians know how to improvise on their instruments, which is an indispensable (even mandatory) capability when it comes to performing jazz, rock, country, bluegrass, and other styles of popular music commonly heard in Broadway productions.
Saturday’s program is as follows:
- Mozart — Piano Quartet in E-flat major, K. 493
- Fauré — Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15
- Works by Schubert, Glière, and Stamitz
Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15, is a cornerstone of late-Romantic chamber music. Composed between 1876 and 1879, the piece offers emotional depth, lyrical beauty, and what some describe as a distinctive French sensibility. And although Fauré’s work will be the highlight of Saturday’s performance, Mozart will likely come first, because he was the first to compose significant works for the piano quartet genre.
Sheffield resident Jorge Ávila won the Omar del Carlo Fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center and First Prize at the 2001 Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Competition. Having performed with such prominent chamber musicians as David Finckel, Wu Han, and the Salem Chamber Orchestra, Ávila’s repertoire includes all of the major violin concertos. He has recorded for Centaur, Naxos, Nonesuch, and other labels and served as concertmaster to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, in a televised Mass held at Yankee Stadium. He is concertmaster of the Ridgefield Symphony, Distinguished Concerts International New York, and the Sacred Music in a Sacred Space series. Before becoming a U.S. citizen, the Honduras-born Ávila received his green card in the “extraordinary talent” category.
Sarah Hewitt-Roth is a member of the New York Pops Orchestra, performs regularly at Carnegie Hall as assistant principal cellist of the New York City Chamber Orchestra, and has performed in “Live From Lincoln Center” broadcasts. She has served as principal cello for 12 Broadway shows, including the revival of “West Side Story.” She has toured throughout Europe and the United States, performing with Philharmonia Virtuosi and The New York Chamber Soloists.
Violist Sarah Adams studied with Cleveland Orchestra members Kurt Loebel and Edward Ormond, winning the inaugural Cleveland Orchestra String Competition and the Louis Lane Scholarship. She studied with Martha Katz at the Eastman School of Music and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kent State University, studying with Kay Slocum. She then earned a Professional Studies Certificate at The Juilliard School as a student of Karen Tuttle.
Adrienne Kim has performed in such venues as New York’s Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, Weill Recital Hall, and Bargemusic; Boston’s Symphony Hall; Washington, D.C.’s Phillips Gallery; and Ravinia’s Rising Stars series in Chicago. Solo appearances have included dates with the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of Beijing, the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, and the Richmond Orchestra.
Hear a program of piano quartets by Mozart, Fauré, and others on Saturday, January 25, 2 p.m., at the Old Parish Church, 125 Main Street, Sheffield, 01257. More information and tickets are available here. Or call (413) 441-6446 or email tickets@lichgateconcerts.org.