One of the most recognized, honored and versatile musicians in the world will appear in Lewes at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, when Coastal Concerts hosts legendary two-time Grammy-winning clarinetist Richard Stoltzman at Bethel United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. He will be joined by one of the world’s premier chamber ensembles, the American String Quartet, in performances of two of the most celebrated works written for Clarinet Quintet, Mozart’s composition in A Major, K. 581, and Brahms’s Op. 115 in B Minor. Also on the program will be Ravel’s richly textured String Quartet in F Major, his only work in this form.
Mr. Stoltzman, described by The Washington Post as an “artist of indescribable genius,” is a famed recitalist, chamber musician and jazz performer, as well as a prolific recording artist. The first wind player to be awarded the Avery Fisher Prize, Mr. Stoltzman’s unique way with the clarinet has opened up possibilities for the instrument that no one could have predicted. Beyond the classical realm, he has performed or recorded with such pop and jazz greats as the Canadian Brass, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter, Mel Tormé and Spyro Gyra founder Jeremy Wall.
The American String Quartet, hailed by The Strand magazine as “the finest quartet based in New York,” is internationally known for its critically acclaimed performances and recordings of European and American masters. The ASQ, in residence at the Aspen Music Festival since 1974 and the Manhattan School of Music since 1984, is also a noted champion of contemporary music, with an extensive record of commissioning and premiering works by distinguished American composers.
The opportunity to experience such renowned musicians as Mr. Stoltzman and the ASQ in collaboration promises to make this event one of the high points of the Coastal Concerts season.
The 2 p.m. concert will take place at the renovated and fully accessible Bethel United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 4th and Market streets, Lewes. Tickets are $30. (Premium seating for $35 is sold out.) Ages 10-18, as well as one adult per youth, are admitted free with advance reservations. Admission for $10 is available at the door to students 19 years and older, as well as to active duty and retired career military, with valid ID.
For online tickets and more information, visit coastalconcerts.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the afternoon of the performance (all forms of payment accepted) or in advance (cash or check only) at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, the Inn at Canal Square, Lewes Gourmet/Puzzles and Teller Wines in Lewes. All credit-card purchases are subject to a $4 transaction fee.
Coastal Concerts, a nonprofit organization promoting classical music appreciation through live concerts, outreach and educational activities, is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
