Musicfest back for ninth season, May 29

Musicfest returns for its ninth season on May 29 at the Guelph Youth Music Centre.

The event features four consecutive Friday nights at 7:30pm.

The series opens on May 29 with the Cecilia Duo—Sarah Nematallah and Min-Jeong Koh, the two violinists from the world-renowned Cecilia String Quartet. Music for two violins by Bach, Handel/Halvorsen, Prokofiev and Shostakovich are included in the show. They are joined by pianist Ken Gee for Moszkowski’s Suite in G minor for 2 violins & piano.

Pianist André Laplante returns on June 5. His Musicfest recital in 2013 had the crowd roaring with delight. He brings with him a program of Bach-Busoni, Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven and the Liszt Sonata in B minor.

The Festival Trio returns on June 12, featuring Canadian/Belgian violinist Sadie Fields, cellist Paul Pulford and pianist Gee. They play a program of trios by Beethoven’s Trio in C minor, op. 1; Piazzolla’s Four Seasons, and the Shostakovich Trio no. 2 in E minor.

The series ends with the Festival Quartet, with violinist Jerzy Kaplanek, violist Christine Vlajk, cellist Katie Schlaikjer (all from the Penderecki String Quartet) and pianist Gee. A variety of music by Beethoven, Hindemith and Brahms, concludes with the Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor.

All the concerts are in the recital hall of the Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan St. Perfect acoustics and only 180 seats make the shows a chamber music experience.

All the information is at guelphmusicfest.ca. Tickets are now on sale. Series and single concert tickets can be ordered online or by phone 519-993-7591. A series of early bird specials offers a variety of deals, including discounts and free tickets.

All advance tickets will include a discount coupon  for local restaurants.

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