behind theNotes

01ROCKPORT MUSIC 37 MAIN STREET, ROCKPORT, MA 01966 T 978.546.7391 W rockportmusic.org

This spring, The New YorkTimes praised the Quartet fora series of concerts at LincolnCenter, featuring the musicthey will play at the OpeningNight Gala on June 6 at theShalin Liu Performance Center.

“I've been attempting foryears to have the EmersonQuartet perform at Rockport,”says Artistic Director DavidDeveau. It was almost twoyears ago when Deveaubooked this Opening Nightconcert, finding a break in theEmerson’s schedule that fitthe Festival calendar. “Thisquartet has been at the top of the ever-expanding list of greatAmerican quartets since their beginnings in the late 1970s. I am thrilled that the Rockport audience will at last have anopportunity to hear this superb ensemble.”

Among their achievements are 30 recordings, nine Grammy®Awards (including two for Best Classical Album), threeGramophone Awards, the Avery Fisher Prize and MusicalAmerica’s “Ensemble of the Year.” The impressive list explainswhy they are in demand. After traveling to South America in

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The musicians of the Emerson String Quartetwill glide their bows across the strings of violins,viola and cello as they open the 33rd RockportChamber Music Festival, a first appearance by“one of the world’s most respected, appreciatedand popular chamber music institutions.”

the DISTINCTIVE SOUNDOF ROCKPORT

Emerson String Quartet to Debut in RockportBY CHRIS BARKER , EDITOR

May, they will play in Rockport before heading to Japan inmid-June and then returning to a full performance calendar inthe U.S. and Canada.

Entering its 37th season, the Emerson String Quartet welcomesnew cellist Paul Watkins, its first personnel change since 1979.Watkins joins violinists Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer andviolist Lawrence Dutton. He replaces David Finckel, who leftthe quartet to pursue his burgeoning solo and chamber musiccareer with his pianist wife, Wu Han. The popular duo returnsto Rockport June 8th, two days after the opening.

”It will be fun for our audiencesto hear both the quartet’s newand former cellists within 48hours,” says Deveau.

Finckel says, “We considerourselves fortunate tocontinue to perform there,and we are so happy to seethat the Emerson Quartet isfinally making its debut at thiswonderful Festival as well.”

Opening Night’s programfeatures two very differentworks, the Shostakovich 13thquartet and Schubert’s “Deathand the Maiden,” written more

than a century apart but with a common theme of death.

Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his quartet in 1970 when the composerwas suffering from poliomyelitis, a degenerative condition thatclaimed his life in 1975, just one month short of his 69th birthday.The much younger Franz Schubert was composing whilefighting symptoms of syphilis, a disease that would cause hisdeath in 1828 at the age of 31.

Violinist Drucker explained why the Emerson String Quartetchose this music. “Everyone is afraid of death,” he said. “To

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Emerson Quartet continues on pg. 07

EMERSON STRING QUARTET

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summer smokin’ with hot jazz…BY TONY BEADLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

It’s hard to believe this year marks the third anniversaryof the Rockport Jazz Festival, a perfect blend of legendsand great performers of today’s generation—allwithin a five-day stretch. So, get your tickets, maybesettle in at one of Rockport’s B&B’s or inns and beprepared for some great non-stop listening.

We get started Wednesday, August 13, with Ali Jackson and hisquartet. You might know him as the drummer for the Jazz atLincoln Center Orchestra where he’s worked with almosteverybody in the business. An old West African proverb says, “A master drummer must have seven eyes,” or in this case,perform with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra!

Looking for a refreshing change? Then Thursday’s artist, CyrilleAimée, is just for you. Her approach is logical, yet improvised;lyrical, yet highly rhythmic. Prepare for some standards sunglike you’ve never heard them. She has won both the ShureMontreux Jazz Voice and Sarah Vaughan International JazzVocal competitions. That is all you need to know.

Not many jazz artists delve into the classical world, but forDonal Fox, who plays on Friday, it’s familiar ground. Radiopersonality Terrance McKnight describes his style as “Art Tatumon the right hand; Johann Sebastian Bach on the left; DonalFox in the middle.” He brings virtuosity, coupled with a nod toclassical, all blended into “classic” (and not so classic!) jazz.

If you want legends, then be here on both Saturday and Sunday.Things get rolling Saturday with pianist Kenny Barron, who hasperformed with almost every great jazz artist of the modern eraduring a career spanning more than 50 years. His work as apianist and film composer, combined with a vast catalog ofmore than 40 recordings, makes him a true jazz icon.

Bucky Pizzarelli, a master of the seven-string guitar, is featured

Bucky Pizzarelli, a master of the seven-string guitar, is featuredon the post-brunch time slot at 2 pm Sunday. He has a storiedcareer playing alongside Benny Goodman and Frank Sinatra(among many others) and is the father of guitarist and singerJohn Pizzarelli. Bucky Pizzarelli joins the incomparable FrankVignola and Vinny Raniolo, giving us three generations of swingguitar. They’re calling this show Swing Xing!, whatever thatmeans. I think it means something great.

In his second visit to Rockport, superstar bassist Christian McBrideprovides a fitting Festival closer Sunday evening. Coming froma line of family bass players, McBride has distinguished himselfas an artist on the acoustic bass, but also as a composer andarranger. Like most jazz greats, he does not sit still for long,searching for that next jazz genre that will interest him. Aslisteners, we are well-served here.

That wraps up the five-day Rockport Jazz Festival, consisting ofsix performances from Wednesday to Sunday (August 13-17).

And don’t forget our Jazz Chats, 30-minute informal interviewswith the artists conducted one hour before each Jazz Festival concert.These events are insightful, informative and just plain fun.

See you at the Festival!

For a complete listing of upcoming events, visit rockportmusic.org

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE KENNY BARRON DONAL FOX

ALI JACKSONCYRILLE AIMÉE

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I made a conscious choice this summer to return to our roots for the 33rd Rockport Chamber MusicFestival by putting the spotlight on the string quartet.

The Festival began by featuring smallensembles in the Rockport ArtAssociation building on a stage thatcould barely fit a grand piano and fouradditional players.

In the Shalin Liu Performance Center,we have been able to presentensembles of up to 18 players. Lastsummer’s Festival was about as adventurous as we’ve presented,from 12th century music drama, 17th century chamber opera tomusic written in the last year byThomas Adès. I reveled in using ournew home to test the boundaries ofwhat we offer.

But, we are, after all, the RockportChamber Music Festival, and at thecore of the chamber music literatureis the string quartet. We live in agolden age of great string quartets.Two generations ago, there were onlya handful of full-time string quartetswho toured and recorded. Today, almost every music school has aresident quartet and an endless supplyof students who want to form one.

I want to feature this richness in presenting a number of differentquartets, starting with the world-renowned Grammy-winning EmersonString Quartet, who perform onOpening Night.

In the following weeks, we will hearsome of today’s most in-demandquartets: the Borromeo, Parker,Shanghai and Calder. In some programs, the quartets will be joinedby guest artists for quintets. But thefocus is largely on the genre that PapaHaydn invented in the 18th century,and which still preoccupies the greatcomposers of today. It should be atreat for the audiences to compareand contrast the very different styles.

In addition to the quartets, we will have the Boston SymphonyChamber Players (with a beautiful new work by Yehudi Wyner),the Claremont Trio, Imani Winds and pianists Joyce Yang andWendy Chen.

Making Festival debuts are MacArthurwinner Jeremy Denk, the brilliantyoung pianist Charlie Albright andthe incredible 12-voice all male choirChanticleer with a “double header” of a debut!

There are duo recitals by DavidFinckel and Wu Han (cello/piano);Stefan Jackiw and Anna Polonsky(violin/piano); and Richard and MikaStoltzman (clarinet and marimba). A number of mixed ensembles roundout the season, including the BostonEarly Music Festival chamber ensemble.

I look forward to soon welcoming youto the 33rd Rockport Chamber MusicFestival!

a sextet of quartetsBY DAVID DEVEAU, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

SHANGHAI QUARTET

BORROMEO QUARTET

CALDER QUARTET

PARKER QUARTET

THE FESTIVAL WILL HAVE A NEWSERIES THIS SUMMER called RisingStars. We’ve always supported brilliantyoung performers by inviting themto play for our audiences. This newseries of three Tuesday concertspresents dazzling artists at thebeginning of important careers: DariaRabotkina, piano, (who made a sen-sation here with her performance ofProkofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite lastsummer); the superb Neave PianoTrio from California with a folk-inspiredprogram including Dvorák andShostakovich; and the brilliant andfun Donald Sinta (saxophone) Quartet.My desire was to have some concertspriced more affordably and thisRising Stars “trilogy” fills the bill.

– DAVID DEVEAU

DONALD SINTA SAXOPHONE QUARTET

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David Deveau Artistic Director

Tony BeadleExecutive Director

BOARD OF TRUSTEESJoseph Mueller, ChairAllan H. Cohen, Vice-ChairSusanne Guyer, Vice-ChaIrGarth Greimann,TreasurerMary Malone,Clerk/Secretary

Mary M. BarcusStephen M. BellFrank G. BersonJanice CanePriscilla C. DeckNina D. FieldsteelS. Frank FritschMary-Jo GrenfellMargaretta HausmanWilliam HausmanSteve LindoJeannie McIntyreMichael Pardee

Ruth S. ShaneWilliam E. TaylorRichard TennantPeter WernauMargaret Ziering

TRUSTEES EMERITIJames BarkerThomas BurgerMollie ByrnesPhilip CutterSusan GrayMimi Harper

ROCKPORT MUSICCOUNCILWilliam J. Kneisel,ChairmanPeter A. AndersonGregory R. BoverAndrew CalkinsJ. Robert Cassady, M.D.Richard CaturanoStephanie ConnaughtonDeborah EpsteinSherwin GreenblattLorraine B. HornG. Timothy Johnson

Jan LoeberMichael J. MazziniOlivia ParkerIrving H. PlotkinFrank E. PreviteDavid W. ScudderHinda SimonAndrew SpindlerNaomi R. StonbergBruce D. Sunstein

encore donors: “TAKE A BOW”BY JO FRANCES MEYER , DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Rockport Music’s performers are often calledback on stage for an encore by our appreciativeaudience. If our donors could take a bow for theircontributions, especially our Encore Donors, theytoo would be getting the applause they deserve.

Rockport Music is fortunate to have incredibly loyal donors.“Donor retention” has become a hot topic among fundraisingprofessionals as the average rate for all U.S. nonprofitorganizations—large and small—hovers at approximately 40percent, down from a high of 60 percent in past years.

Rockport Music, however, defies this trend. For the last fewyears, our donor retention rate has been closer to 60 percent.

We have a special name for donors who have made a gift to theRockport Music Annual Fund for five years in a row or more.They are our Encore Donors, some of whom have been giving toour Annual Fund since the beginning of the Rockport ChamberMusic Festival in 1981. These donors are among our mosttreasured!

I recently spoke to some Encore Donors to find out why theychoose to give to Rockport Music.

Marie Foss has been a volunteer since the Festival began. “Theywere always looking for people to bake,” she remembers. Shehelped with concessions and meeting musicians at the airportas well as becoming a donor. “Whenever they started asking iswhen I started giving.”

Encore Donors since 2008, Lois Brynes and Serena Hilsingermoved to Rockport in 2000, but had been attending concertssince the mid-1980’s. Lois said they “want Rockport Music tolast well into the future.”Their decision to give reflects their love of theRockport community, pridein having “this world-class

facility” as well as supporting Rockport Music’s mission ofoutreach and education.

Former Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce president MikeCostello remembers attending the first concert at the RockportArt Association. “The Festival just added one more layer in thecreative juices that this place is known for.” He said even withthe support of the business community, he “never dreamed thatit would become what it is today.” An Encore Donor since 2010,Mike says it is “my responsibility to give back.”

Lois and Serena’s favorite concert memories: “…at the RockportArt Association, a string quartet was playing. The windows wereopen, and all of a sudden there was a cardinal perched on arafter! The bird started singing…and the musicians weresmiling.” At the Shalin Liu Performance Center, an audiencemember called out “Double rainbow!” as he spotted onethrough the signature picture window during opening remarks.

Mike’s favorite memory: A big Puccini fan — it was seeing theMET’s Live in HD production of La Bohème in April.

Heartfelt thanks to Marie, Lois, Serena and Mike, just a few ofour cherished Encore Donors.

ENCORE DONOR DATA2014 Encore Donors 115Giving at least 15 years 24

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NEC OPERA STUDENTS PERFORMSCENES FROM THE MAGIC FLUTEFOR ROCKPORT AND GLOUCESTERELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN.

CLASSICAL JAM HOSTS AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AT PATHWAYS.

DURING MOTIF #1 DAY, A YOUNG DRUMMER EXPLORES A DJEMBEAT OUR INSTRUMENT

PETTING ZOO.

CLASSICAL JAM WORKS WITH YOUNG ORCHESTRA STUDENTSAT ROCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL.

A BOY JAMS ON HIS HOMEMADE “GUITAR” AFTERATTENDING OUR MAKE YOUR OWN INSTRUMENTWORKSHOP DURING HARVEST FESTIVAL.

ELLIOT SMITH PRESENTS AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM OF TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH MUSIC AT PATHWAYS FOR CHILDREN.

EDUCATION OUTREACH HIGHLIGHTSEnriching lives through great music!

THEATER COMES TO THE SHALIN LIU PERFORMANCE CENTEROn August 10 Rockport Music will present its first-ever professional live theater production, TinaPacker’s Women of Will. Here’s a quick tutorial for those as yet unaware of the brilliant, director/actress Tina Packer. As the founder and artistic director of the legendary Shakespeare & Company(Lenox, Mass.), Packer has directed more productions of the Bard’s work than any woman in historyand is considered one of the country’s foremost Shakespearean experts. Legendary actors from allover the globe, including Ian McKellen, Sigourney Weaver, Richard Dreyfuss, Olympia Dukakisand countless others, have studied under her direction. In short, Tina Packer is the Grand Dame ofShakespeare.

The Women of Will project, for which Packer received Guggenheim and Bunting fellowships, findsher exploring gender roles and power dynamics throughout Shakespeare’s plays. Toggling betweenvisceral performances and intriguing analysis, Packer sheds new light on many of the playwright’smost familiar scenes, providing a refreshing perspective on such beloved, yet well-worn material.Rockport Music couldn’t be happier to debut its first professional theater presentation with sucha unique and intriguing production.

BY CHRIS BLAGG

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finding andean music on bearskin neck

BY STEPHANIE WOOLF, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

“I heard some interesting flute music over theweekend.”

There was nothing unusual in the casual commentmade to me by Fran Pierce, a music teacher atRockport Elementary School. Then she added, “…. at the Andean store on Bearskin Neck.”

It was last fall when Fransteered me past the popularT-shirt shops and ice creamstands to Inkas Wasi, a storefilled with clothes, ceramicsand musical instrumentsfrom South America. Eager to expand Rockport Music’seducation outreach to musicof other cultures, I wanted tocheck it out.

It was there I met SergioEspinoza, the flutist and ownerof Inkas Wasi, who is also aclassically-trained violinist.Espinoza studied at the National Conservatory ofMusic in Lima, Peru. Helearned the traditional musicof the Andes region whileplaying with his family’s musicand dance group, also knownas Inkas Wasi. The group hastoured the United States andEurope since 1991.

A former music educator in Peru, Espinoza plays many stylesof Peruvian flute as well as the mandolin and charango. Hispresentation to Rockport schools introduced students to theenchanting melodies and captivating rhythms of the people,and also informed them about the culture and traditions.

Espinoza and Pierce plan to teach fourth graders at RockportElementary School El Condor Pasa (If I Could), a tune famouslyrecorded by Simon & Garfunkel. The students will performthe song at the Family Concert to be given by Inkas Wasi onJune 14 as part of the Rockport Chamber Music Festival. Thesong was written in 1913 by Peruvian composer Daniel AlomíaRobles, and is based on traditional Andean folk tunes.

A former music educator in Peru, Espinoza plays manystyles of Peruvian fluteas well as the mandolinand charango.

SERGIO ESPINOZAPERFORMS ON A PERUVIAN FLUTEFOR ROCKPORT ELEMENTARYSCHOOL STUDENTS.

BOSTON CHILDREN’S CHORUSAs part of a new collaboration between Rockport Music and theBoston Children’s Chorus (BCC), this exciting young choir knownfor its “dazzling” performances (The Boston Globe) will make its RockportMusic debut on June 1. A reception will follow the concert, andattendees will have an opportunity to meet the young musicians.

The collaboration will continue next year with Rockport High Schoolchorus students visiting the BCC rehearsals and learning from theexcellent instruction of Artistic Director Anthony Trecek-King. The collaboration will culminate in a concert next February.

TRADITIONAL HATS FROM THE ANDES

Docents Open the Shalin Liu Performance Center to Public

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When the Shalin Liu Performance Center opened, itquickly commanded attention. The elegance of the architecture — with front windows that look throughthe building to the water — and the arrival of a newspectacular concert hall, proved to be an irresistiblecombination. So, it was not surprising that many people wanted to take a peek.

In response, Rockport Music began the Docent Program, a community-minded initiative to help inform the curious publicabout our magnificent Shalin Liu PerformanceCenter. It expands this summer from itsprevious three days a week to welcome visitors five days a week.

We recently talked with Pamela Bynum, whomanages as a volunteer the Docent Programand its 15 volunteer docents.

What made you want to become a docentfor Rockport Music?Even before the hall opened in 2010, almost anyone walking downMain Street wanted to go inside and take a look. One only has tolook at the smudges on the doors and windows (and to watch themaintenance staff clean the windows at least once a day) to get afeeling for how many people look into the hall every day. We knowthat the program is popular; there have been several days whenwe've had more than 100 visitors in two hours.

In your experience, what aspects of the Shalin Liu PerformanceCenter do people get most excited or curious about?It never fails that when we have the front doors open, at least fivepeople stop during the two hours we are open and say, “OH MYGOD!!!! This is gorgeous!” So many visitors are initially interestedin the hall, but end up being very curious about Rockport Music itself and our programs, especially, the ubiquitous “Are there anytickets for tonight’s performance?” question. Now that we have online ticketing (and a mobile app by the beginning of the summer),

that question will be easier to answer.

I think there are two frequently askedquestions. The first one is about the walls ofthe performance hall and the second is abouthow the hall came to be named the ShalinLiu Performance Center (it was named for asignificant donor). People are also curiousabout the window at the back of the stage aswell as if the hall is available for rentals (and,it certainly is!).

Do you have any stories/anecdotesabout your docent experiences?

There are just so many to choose from.

• the day that Bob Vila (host from This Old House) stayed for nearly an hour asking so many questions about theconstruction and the materials

• an impromptu performance by pianist Alpin Hong who was rehearsing for a concert, but ended up playing for all of the visitors that afternoon

• the astonishment that visitors express when we tellthem that it was built through the generosity of donors

confront it through art is not the same thing as facing one’s own death, but theaesthetic experience helps us grapple with this most difficult of transitions:somehow we are left more hopeful about life, as well as saddened by thethought of its end.”

Deveau notes, "This is not a frothy ‘gala’ style program, but rather a serious offering. The Emerson has been devoting much time to the late quartets ofShostakovich this season… And the Schubert? One of his most intense anddramatic compositions.”

Of the quartet’s musical style, Deveau says, “An unusual aspect is that the violinists alternate playing the first and second parts and they, as well as theviolist, stand in concert. Their style of playing is uniquely beautiful, with a blendedsound, but one that allows the four individual 'voices' to be heard distinctly.”

For Drucker, to perform in Rockport will be a first and a repeat. He and hiswife, cellist Roberta Cooper, played at the Festival more than 20 years ago andhe looks forward to returning with the Emerson String Quartet.

“In the late '80s, Roberta and I sensed the tremendous potential for growth inthe Festival; in that context, it will be particularly rewarding for me to play atthe new Shalin Liu Performance Center.”

Emerson Quartet continued from pg. 01 IN MEMORY OF PETER D. BELLRockport Music and the Board ofTrustees were extremely saddenedwhen Trustee Peter D. Bell died atage 73 this past April after a five-month battle with cancer. A native of Gloucester as well as aninternationally-known humanitarianleader, Peter possessed a profound sense ofintegrity and compassion that guided his workand inspired others. Having devoted his careerto fighting poverty, advancing human rights andpreventing violent conflict around the world, healso cared deeply about his local community andserved with distinction as a member of the RockportMusic Board of Trustees from 2011-14.

The Rockport Music Board of Trustees extends itsdeepest sympathies to Peter’s wife, Karen, andfamily, and is pleased to dedicate the Friday,July 11, 5 pm performance of Chanticleer toPeter’s memory.

Summer 2013 Visitors to Hall: 1,500

VOLUNTEER DOCENT PAMELA BYNUM PREPARES FORVISITORS TO THE SHALIN LIU PERFORMANCE CENTER.

08ROCKPORT MUSIC 37 MAIN STREET, ROCKPORT, MA 01966 T 978.546.7391 W rockportmusic.org

NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDROCKPORT, MAPERMIT NO. 7

Editor: Chris Barker Contributing Editors: Karen Herlitz and Chris Blagg

6/1 Boston Children’s Chorus

6/6 OPENING NIGHT GALA: Emerson String Quartet

6/7 Stefan Jackiw, violin & Anna Polonsky, piano

6/8 David Finckel, cello & Wu Han, piano

6/10 Rockapella

6/12 Borromeo Quartet with LaurenceLesser, cello

6/13 MASTERCLASS:Andrés Cárdenes, violin (free)

6/13 Charlie Albright, piano

6/14 Inkas Wasi (free)

6/14 David Deveau & Friends

6/15 Parker Quartet with Tom van Dyck, bass

6/16 NATIONAL THEATRE (HD):A Small Family Business

6/17 Neave Trio

6/19 Joyce Yang, piano

6/20 Schubertiade Evening

6/21 Shanghai Quartet

6/22 Shanghai Quartet withWendy Chen, piano

6/24 Daria Rabotkina, piano

6/26 Claremont Trio

6/27 OPEN REHEARSAL: Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble (free)

6/27 Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble

6/28 Next Generation Recital (free)

6/28 Boston Symphony Chamber Players

6/29 Jeremy Denk, piano

7/1 & 7/2 Livingston Taylor

7/5 Zappa Plays Zappa

7/6 Richard Stoltzman, clarinet & Mika Yoshida Stoltzman, marimba

7/7 FILM: Clash of the Wolves (free)

7/8 Donald Sinta Saxophone Quartet

7/9 Shawn Colvin

7/10 Calder Quartet withMarcus Thompson, viola

7/11 Chanticleer

7/12 Bohemian Quartet (free)

7/12 Calder Quartet

7/13 Imani Winds

7/17 Kathy Mattea

7/18 Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

7/20 The Del McCoury Band

7/21 FILM: A Walk Into the Sea (free)

7/25 Heritage Blues

7/26 Yellowjackets

7/27 Loudon Wainwright III

7/31 Grace Kelly

8/1 Liz Longley

8/3 Hot Club of San Francisco

8/7 The Bad Plus –Joshua Redman

8/8 Anthony de Mare: Sondheim from the Piano

8/9 Martin Sexton

8/10 Tina Packer’s Women of Will

8/13 Ali Jackson

8/14 Cyrille Aimée

8/15 Donal Fox

8/16 Kenny Barron Trio

8/17 Swing Xing! with Bucky Pizzarelli

8/17 Christian McBride

8/22 The Kingston Trio

8/23 & 8/24 Tom Rush

8/28 & 8/29 Paula Cole

8/30 Capitol Steps

:: Summer 2014 Calendar ::

JUNE

JUNE

JULY

JULY

AUGUST

37 MAIN STREET, ROCKPORT, MASSACHUSETTS 01966

Please visit our website for exact performance times and additional concerts.