Chamber Music Fest’s First Week
Features Four Veteran Musicians

Nationally-known, New York-based musicians and their families will be in town for the two-week-long Central Vermont Music Festival at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph, starting with a concert this Saturday evening. (Herald / Bob Eddy)

The musicians for the first week of the Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival will arrive next Monday, Aug. 6, from the New York area for their residency at Randolph’s Chandler Music Hall and will begin rehearsing for the first weekend offerings.

Featured for this first week of music making are three trios for piano, violin and cello. Alternating on violin are Basia Danilow and Arturo Delmoni, with cellist Peter Sanders and pianist Albert Stanziano. They will perform the Haydn Piano Trio in G major, Hob. XV: 25, nicknamed "Gypsy Rondo," and the Beethoven Piano Trio in E flat Major, Opus 70, #2.

Music Director Peter Sanders promises each year an unusual, seldom-heard composition and this time it is the Piano Trio #3 in a minor Opus 155 by the 19^th century Swiss/German composer Joachim Raff, who was mentored by both Mendelssohn and Liszt, as well as the conductor Hans von Bülow. Though relatively obscure today, his world-wide fame in his later life spread until he came to be regarded as one of the foremost composers of his day—the equal of Brahms and Wagner.

The first concert of this music will be Friday, Aug. 10 at the Montpelier Unitarian Church on Main Street beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door. On the following evening, Saturday, Aug. 12, it will be performed at Chandler Music Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the Chandler box office at 728-6464 between 3-6 p.m., or on their website at www.chandler-arts.org, as well as at the door on the evening of the concert. Students are admitted free, thanks to a special grant. Inquire through the box office.

Each of these four musicians is familiar to festival audiences.

Danilow performs regularly in the United States and abroad with L’Opéra Français de New York, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and is the concertmaster for the New Philharmonic of New Jersey and the Princeton Symphony, often appearing as soloist.

Delmoni is one of the most celebrated artists of his generation. Yo-Yo Ma describes him as "an enormously gifted musician and an impeccable violinist. His playing style is unique, and his gorgeous sound is reminiscent of that of great violinists from a bygone era." 

Festival Music Director Sanders, a native New Yorker and a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, is a member of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, for which he has served as Acting Principal. He is also principal cello for the New Philharmonic of New Jersey and performs with the Riverside Symphony, the Stamford Symphony and has performed and recorded as a guest artist with the Perspectives Ensemble.

Pianist Stanziano has performed internationally as solo recitalist, chamber musician and in collaboration with many noted singers. He has appeared in recital at Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall and Steinway Hall as well as throughout Switzerland and Germany and currently maintains a private studio coaching internationally recognized singers and pianists.

There is a free open rehearsal for this concert Thursday, Aug. 9. Anyone interested in observing the preparation of a chamber music concert is welcome to sit in on the proceedings, beginning at 7 p.m. at Chandler.

Topping off the weekend's activities will be the popular free lunchtime concert Sunday, Aug. 12 at 12:30 p.m. at the Three Stallion Inn in Randolph. This year, violinist and fiddler Paul Woodiel returns, with pianist Susie Petrov for an entertaining hour or so of music of classic Scottish violin masters such as Niel Gow, J. Scott Skinner, and Hector McAndrew. A busy New York-based purveyor of a broad range of violin and fiddle styles, Woodiel was described by Leonard Bernstein as "a first-class performer—one who combines spirituality with intellect." Petvo holds a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from the Peabody Conservatory, a Masters degree from Temple University, and the Kodàly teaching certificate. Guests are invited to bring their own picnics, and food is also available at the Inn. For further information, call the Inn at 728-7575.

The ensemble will appear as guests of VPR’s classical music host, Walter Parker, Friday morning, Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. in the station’s Colchester studios. Parker will talk with the four musicians, who will also perform live excerpts from the concerts.

The Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival is presented in partnership with Chandler Center for the Arts. Chandler Music Hall is wheelchair accessible. For further information, check online at www.centralvtchamberfest.org.

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