Pianist Set to Perform at Meeting House

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Xuerong Zhao
NEW MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Pianist Xuerong Zhao is set to perform at the Meeting House on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 4:30 p.m.

Zhao, a young performer with a genuine flair for virtuosity, will play music by Domenico Scarlatti, Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Born to a musical family in Beijing, China, Zhao first performed publicly at age six, and a year later she was awarded first prize at the “Beijing Young Pianist Competition.” Following her early success, she became one of eight students selected to attend The Central Conservatory in Beijing, the most prestigious music conservatory in China. Upon completing her studies in October 2003, Zhao captured second prize in the International Chopin Piano Competition in Rome. Shortly thereafter she returned to China to make her solo recital debuts in Beijing and Guangzhou, China.

In 2006, Zhao came to the United States and earned a full scholarship to the Mannes College in New York City. In May 2010, she made her New York concert debut at Weill Hall of Carnegie Hall, which was presented by the New York Chamber Orchestra and Columbia Promotions LLC. It was a performance that Harris Goldsmith of the New York Concert Review, Inc. called “breathtakingly fleet and well-held together…Ms. Zhao is a born performer.”

The program, hosted by Music & More, is comprised of "Two Keyboard Sonatas" (B minor, K. 87 and G major, K. 455) by Scarlatti; "Soirées de Vienne": Valse-Caprice No. 6 by Liszt; "Carnaval," Op. 9 by Schumann; "Variations on a Theme of Paganini," Op. 35 by Brahms; and "Spanish Rhapsody" by Liszt.


The historic Meeting House is located on the Green in New Marlborough. A wine reception will follow in the Meeting House gallery. Tickets cost $20 and $25; students with ID and children with parents are admitted for free. Go to www.newmarlborough.org or call 413-229-2785 for tickets, discounts and information.

The Music & More series continues this month with two outstanding performances: On Saturday, Sept. 11 at 4:30 p.m., the Apollo Trio (Curtis Macomber, Michael Kannen and Marija Stroke) will perform music by Haydn, Schumann and Beethoven. On Saturday, Sept. 25, acclaimed cellist Keith Robinson and pianist Donna Lee will perform sonatas by Beethoven, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn. Music & More will conclude its 2010 season on Saturday, Oct. 2 with a roundtable discussion by three award-winning authors, hosted by Mitchel Levitas of The New York Times.
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Multiple Departments Respond to Lanesborough Structure Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire off Narragansett Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Fire Department received a call from the owner of 6 Bangor St. reporting smoke and flames at around 1:44 p.m.

Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy smoke emanating from the 1940s single-family ranch home in the thickly settled neighborhood.

The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. 

"The homeowner was outside doing some work, evidently, opened the door when she came back in the house, and there were flames and smoke, so she backed out and called us, and that's all we know right now," Deputy Fire Chief Glen Storie said around 2:35 p.m. 

The fire was out at that time, and first responders observed "quite a bit of damage" to the home. The cause is still under investigation. 

Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Pittsfield departments responded to the scene, and Hancock covered the station during the call. 

"The first crew in knocked the fire right down with the first engine," Storie said. 

Smoke could be seen coming from the back of the home. Part of Narragansett Avenue and Bangor Avenue were blocked off while firefighters battled the blaze. 

 

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