November 07, 2008

Chamber music society to present concert

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois Chamber Music Society presents Four Plus Two, a strings concert set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship on Parrish Lane in Carbondale.

This is a reprise of a concert set for the Sesser Opera House at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8.

The “four” refers to the internationally renowned Cavani String Quartet, and the “two” to Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Music faculty musicians Meng-Chun Chi, on viola, and Eric Lenz, on cello. The program includes Mendelssohn’s “String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 13” and Brahms’ “String Sextet in B-Flat Major, Op. 18.”

Mendelssohn composed this selection in 1827, when he was 18 years old. The work has four movements. Some critics describe this selection as Romantic, with some reference to later chamber music compositions by Beethoven.

The Brahms selection, like the Mendelssohn piece, represents the musician in his youth. Critics describe the piece as having a rich texture, with meaningful voice for each musician in the ensemble.

SIUC enjoys a residency affiliation with the Cavani String Quartet that includes violin instruction at Carbondale’s Thomas School. The affiliation is part of how the Southern Illinois Chamber Society, formed to raise scholarship money for SIUC music students, meets its mission of bringing chamber music to the Carbondale area.

Tickets for this performance are $15 for general admission. Student tickets are just $3. Tickets for the Sesser Opera House performance are $10.

The remainder of the season includes performances on Feb. 15 and April 26. Additional performances not included in the series tickets are at the Sesser Opera House April 25. A 25th anniversary celebration with the Cavani String Quartet is in the works for April 2009. For more information, call 618/453-2870.