This is the fourth of Guelph Musicfest in the recital hall of the Guelph Youth Music Centre, running two consecutive weekends from May 14 to May 22.
The theme From Russia with Love highlights the performance of the St. Petersburg String Quartet on May 15 at 8pm.
The St. Petersburg was founded in 1985 as the Leningrad Quartet and blazed a trail through international chamber music competitions, winning first prize at the all-Soviet Union String Quartet competition, the silver medal and a special prize at the Tokyo International Competition of Chamber Ensembles, among others.
The St. Petersburg will play Quartet no. 1 by Shostakovich, Nocturne by Borodin, Quartet no. 2 by Prokofiev, and Quartet no. 1 by Tchaikovsky.
Guelph Musicfest opens on May 14 at 8pm with a violin recital Sadie Fields, accompanied by Ken Gee) at the piano. Fields is flying home from England where she studies advanced violin with György Pauk at the Royal Academy of Music.
In addition to all solo violin works by Tchaikovsky, the program includes Sonata in G major by Mozart, the Spring Sonata by Beethoven, and the violin Sonata by Janacek.
On May 21 at 8pm has Music for Violin and Viola, played by violinist Jerzy Kaplanek and violist Christine Vlajk.
Both of are members of the Penderecki String Quartet. The program includes two-part Inventions by J.S. Bach, the Duo for violin & viola in E-flat by Mozart, and Trauermusik by Hindemith.
David Gilham appears, in the series finale on May 22 at 8pm, with The Ridge Trio. The ensemble includes Belgium cellist Thomas Landschoot and pianist Chiharu Iinuma and husband David). He has been performing with Chiharu since 1998, with concerts in China, Canada, and the United States. He also performs in the Arianna Quartet, artists-in-residence at the University of Missouri.
The group will perform the Trio in G major Gypsy Rondo by Haydn, the Piano Trio in E minor by Shostakovich, and Piano Trio no. 1 in D minor by Schumann.
Anyone who cannot attend all the concerts can have their unused tickets given to a financially-challenged music lover. The donor name will be listed in the printed program as a supporter of Guelph Musicfest.
The cost for all the concerts is $150.
Single tickets are $35 for adults, $30 senior, $25 student
For the complete series, it is $120 for adults, $105 seniors, $85 student (four concerts).
For other ticket options, phone 519-993-7591.
Tickets can be mailed out or are available at The Bookshelf and the Guelph Youth Music Centre next week.
