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BEACON HILL CONCERT SERIES
The Beacon Hill Concerts are a series of summer concerts that take place in a newly-built music hall situated on a beautiful privately-owned property near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The series aims at providing high-quality classical and semi-classical music to the Pocono region. Now in our fifth season, with six concerts scheduled for summer, 2012, we are once again bringing outstanding musical artists to this area. Guests are welcome and can make inquiries and reservations by contacting Jean Stettler at 570/476-1308, or by emailing the concert coordinator, Dan Crawford, at dcrawford1@unl.edu. There is a suggested donation for each of the concerts.
2012 SUMMER SCHEDULE
Sunday, June 3, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. (2 shows) Vocal Spectrum Barbershop Quartet
Saturday, June 9, 4:00 p.m. New York Polyphony
Saturday, July 7, 4:00 p.m. Tapestry
Sunday, July 15, 5:00 p.m. Chiara String Quartet
Saturday, August 4, 4:00 p.m. Elise Quagliata
Sunday, August 26, 4:00 p.m. TENET (Note: NEW DATE!)
Vocal Spectrum
Sunday, June 3, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.
We welcome back Vocal Spectrum, with amazing tenor Tim Waurick, lead Eric Dalbey, baritone Jonny Moroni, and bass Chris Hallem, for another double concert (this one on a Sunday). It was a thrill last season to experience at close range their musical acrobatics and beautiful arrangements of old and new favorites: “Good Vibrations,” “Bring Him Home,” “It is Well With My Soul.” Winners of the international barbershop quartet competition (2006) and collegiate quartet champions (2004), VS continues to be the premier attraction in the barbershop world. Both performances were done to a full house last year, so make your reservations early.
Bios and musical selections at www.vocalspectrum.com
To Make Reservations
Directions
New York Polyphony
Saturday, June 9, 4:00 p.m.
This New York-based ensemble of four male voices (Geoffrey Williams, Steven Wilson, Christopher Herbert, Craig Phillips), almost overnight, has become one of the most sought after in their field of classical ensembles of a new generation. Their interpretations of the Early music repertoire are so fresh and lively that it is hard to distinguish the early from the modern compositions. The precision and purity of their blend, tuning, and ensemble singing is unequaled. The program this year will include an unusual selection of madrigals from Italy, France, and England, as well as a newly commissioned work, “Missa Charles Darwin” by Smith College composer Gregory Brown, which melds the musical architecture of the traditional Catholic Mass with the fundamentally secular texts of Darwin. (The composer will be in attendance at the concert.) See “Programs” for the full program.
Learn more at www.newyorkpolyphony.com
To Make Reservations
Directions
Tapestry
“Song of Songs: Come into my Garden”
Saturday, July 7, 4:00 p.m.
Get ready for another transporting experience when this Boston-based ensemble of five women’s voices (Laurie Monahan, Cristi Catt, Daniela Tosic, Diana Brewer, and Shira Kammen, with harp and vielle) takes up the biblical love poetry of the 3,000 year old Song of Songs. Their program (described as “a cornucopia of sensual pleasures” (San Diego Reader)) weaves together Hebrew, medieval Latin, Arabic, and new, modern settings of the Old Testament text. Last season, we witnessed what one commentator wrote about Tapestry: “they plant haunting vibrations old and new in our ears.” To get a taste of their beautiful melodies and six unique recordings, visit www.tapestryboston05.com
To Make Reservations
Directions
Chiara String Quartet
Sunday, July 15, 5:00 p.m.
TAKE NOTE, this concert is scheduled on Sunday, at 5:00 p.m.!
Returning for a third time in our series, the Chiara String Quartet (Rebecca Fischer, Julie Yoon, Jonah Sirota, Gregory Beaver)—currently Artists-in-residence at Harvard University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln—have developed a devoted following in our area. Now in their eleventh season, these four young instrumentalists have established themselves as among America’s most respected ensembles, lauded for their “highly virtuosic, edge-of-the-seat playing” (The Boston Globe). Every time I hear this group, I am overwhelmed by the togetherness of their playing and their vibrant interpretations of both classical and contemporary compositions, whatever the mood of the piece may be. This summer we will have another creative program with fresh works by old and new composers. Discover more at www.chiaraquartet.net
To Make Reservations
Directions
Elise Quagliata
Saturday, August 4, 4:00 p.m.
For some time, I have wanted to add cabaret to our line-up, and this year I have found the singer to do it—Elise Quagliata, (with accompanist Mikhail Hallak). Ms. Quagliata is accomplished both as an operatic singer, performing leading roles at major opera houses (she recently stunned audiences with her “dark expressive voice” in the demanding role of Sister Helen in Dead Man Walking), and is also adept in a variety of lighter styles from jazz to cabaret. So alongside of Bizet and Debussy, you’ll hear the soft, sentimental tunes of Gershwin, Porter, and Bernstein. (Her rendering of “Speak Low” is not to be missed.) Find out more at elisequagliata.com
To Make Reservations
Directions
TENET
“A Feast for the Senses”
Sunday, August 26, 4:00 p.m. (Note: New Date of Concert)
TENET performed in our 2010 series, and we are happy to have them back for a concert that will be a real feast for our ears. Under the able direction of soprano Jolle Greenleaf, this mixed vocal quintet (with soprano Molly Quinn, alto Virginia Warnken, tenor Marc Molomot, bass Charles Evans, with lutenist Hank Heijink) will do a program drawn mostly from their latest CD that features a rich variety of musical styles from Monteverdi madrigals to spirituals (including one of my favorites “His Eye is on the Sparrow”). TENET has become a major force in NYC Early music circles, and I can assure you that you will not be disappointed when you hear them sing in our intimate setting. For bios and musical selections go to www.TENETnyc.com.
To Make Reservations
Directions