Williams Presents Final Seasonal Concert of 'The Box'
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williams College Department of Music has announced the final seasonal concert of "The Box," music by living composers series featuring the music ensemble Continuum.The last day of the performance is Monday, March 15, at 8 p.m. in the ‘62 Center for Theatre and Dance, CenterStage. The free event is open to the public, but tickets are required.
For more than 40 groups, Continuum has been on the cutting edge of music, and has enjoyed critical acclaim for its unique philosophical and musical stance as put by the New York Times: "Simply put, there is no musical organization in New York that produces more intellectually enticing or more viscerally satisfying programs than Continuum... Year after year, its explorations in 20th-century repertory prove to be not only unusual and unexpected but also important and enduring...This ensemble has a long history of acting in behalf of composers whom others discover years or decades later."
The directors of Continuum Cheryl Seltzer and Joel Sachs also will be the performing pianists on the program and are joined by Mary Mackenzie, soprano; Moran Katz, clarinet; Renée Jolles, violin and Christopher Gross, cello. The evening’s selection of music includes "Music for Piano" (1989) by Franghiz Ali-Zadeh (Azerbaijan/Germany, b. 1947); "Works of Conlon Nancarrow"(US/Mexico, 1912-1997); "Sonata for Violin and Piano" (1989) by Ursula Mamlok (Germany/US, b.1928); "Vez" (2005) by Ana Sokolovic (Yugoslavia/Canada, b. 1968); "Ritomorroto" (1995) by Roberto Sierra (Puerto Rico/US, b.1953); Haqqoni (2007): "Crossroads No. 4," for ensemble and recorded Bukharian singers by Benjamin Yusupov (Tajikistan/Israel, b. 1962).
The concert also features a world premiere composed for Continuum: "Idolos des Sueño" (2010). Williams College Music Department faculty member Ileana Perez-Velázquez (Cuba/US, b.1964) is author of this work.
To reserve tickets, call the '62 Center box office at 413-597-2425.
Continuum also offers the Williams students several master classes on Sunday, March 14, at 2 p.m. that are also open to the public in piano, voice, violin, and cello. All classes will take place in Bernhard Music Center. See music.williams.edu for details.
"The Box" series was conceived in 2007 by Williams composers David Kechley and Ileana Perez Velázquez to present the music of living composers in a setting more intimate and a performance space more flexible than a traditional concert hall. Performers include visiting artists and groups as well as I/O New Music, "The Box" house band.
