Four Nations Ensemble

Such Good Friends: Music of the Bachs and Telemann

Saturday, May 1 at 7:30 pm   Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Pittstown , NJ

The festival opens with a journey back in time to 18th-century Germany, when festival favorite Four Nations Ensemble (flute, violin, cello,

harpsichord) returns to Hunterdon County to offer their vivid, colorful, and emotional performances of music by J. S. Bach, G. P. Telemann, and C. P. E. Bach—J.S.’s son and Telemann’s godson. Four Nations has performed at America’s most prestigious venues, including Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kennedy Center, and Yale University.

www.fournations.org

“They played with a bright edged virtuosity.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES

“[Four Nations] painted a wonderfully human picture of the Bach family.”
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL

“A ray of 18th-century sunshine.”
THE WASHINGTON POST

Left to right: Loretta O'Sullivan, Charles Brink, Claire Jolivet, Ryan Brown, Andrew Appel
Photo: Christian Steiner

Proteus Ensemble: 

Music of the Americas and Beyond

Saturday, May 8 at 7:30 PM

Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church, Bloomsbury, NJ

Named for the Greek sea god capable of assuming various forms, the young Proteus Ensemble is dedicated to breathing fresh life into a wide array of musical forms from the distant past to the present day. Trained at the world’s top music schools—Juilliard, Curtis, Yale, Israeli Conservatory, Toho School in Tokyo, Paris Conservatory—based in New York City, and chosen as the Aspen Music Festival’s Contemporary Ensemble, Proteus has been top-prize winner at the Yellow Springs and Fischoff Chamber Music Competitions. Their concert will feature music by Villa-Lobos (Brazil), John Zorn (USA), Jonathan Harvey (Britain), Brahms (Germany), Haydn (Austria), and Schumann (Saxony).

www.hunsteinartists.com/proteus.html

“Multi-layered patterns of sound that kept the large audience enthralled.”
THE POST & COURIER (CHARLESTON)

“These people can play anything. The members of Proteus play as well as any of the best contemporary ensembles. Two things, however, set Proteus apart: their eclectic and inspiring programming, and the sheer joy they exhibit during performance.”
NEW YORK CONCERT REVIEW 

Photo by Don Hunstein

Biava String Quartet With Tom Gallant, oboe:

Mozart, Beethoven, & Mendelssohn

Saturday, May 22 at 7:30 PM

Stanton Reformed Church, Stanton, NJ

Oboist Tom Gallant, co-founder of the Raritan River Music Festival in 1990, won First Prize in the Concert Artists Guild International competition and has performed at festivals and with symphonies in the world’s music capitals, including Paris, Vienna, New York, and Los Angeles. Founded in 1998 at the Cleveland Institute of the Music, the Boston-based Biava String Quartet—currently completing the unique Professional Certificate in the Art of String Quartet Playing program at New England Conservatory—has already received acclaim for their vibrant performances in London, Italy, New York, and Boston. The quartet was a top-prize winner in the 2003 London International Competition and took the grand prize of the 2003 Naumburg Chamber Music Award competition in New York.

www.mcmartistsworldwide.com

www.biavaquartet.com

BIAVA STRING QUARTET

“Biava Plays With Passion. The sustaining feature was a deep, dark rich sound that plumbed the emotional depths.”
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

“Impressive young Biava Quartet closes fest.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS GAZETTE

TOM GALLANT, OBOE

“Mr. Gallant plays intelligently, with remarkable agility in his high register and a special care for phrasing, allowing his instrument to sing.” 
LOS ANGELES TIMES

“A player who unites technical mastery with intentness, charm, and wit”
THE NEW YORKER

Tom Gallant

Violin sensation Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

Saturday, May 29 at 3:00 PM

Saturday, May 29 at 7:30 PM

Clinton Presbyterian Church, Clinton

The 2004 festival closes with a rare chance to experience Eileen Ivers’ artistry in an intimate space. Eileen Ivers will change the way you think about the violin. She was the musical star of Riverdance, nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, founding member of Cherish the Ladies, and performer with the Chieftains, Patti Smith, the London Symphony and the Boston Pops. Immigrant Soul—Eileen’s touring and recording band—is a who’s-who of Celtic and World music artists: Ivan Goff, pipes and flutes; Tommy McDonnell, singer and harmonica; James Riley, guitar; Emanuel Gatewood, bass; Emedin Rivera, African and Latin percussion. Ivers will be joined by The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo, who have performed this past year with author Frank McCourt, at the 92nd St. Y’s New York Guitar Marathon, and in London and Tahiti.

Listen 

Eileen Ivers