The Mohawk Trail Concerts have been taking place in the Federated Church in Charlemont, Massachusetts since 1969, when Arnold Black, the distinguished violinist and composer, discovered the outstanding acoustics of this attractive old church. Since then, the festival has presented a rich variety of standard repertoire, modern, contemporary, and less familiar older works. Regulars look forward to the annual concert of Joan Morris and William Bolcom, who will celebrate Bastille Day this year.
In particular, the festival will take on a unique character with the performances of works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Fritz Kriesler, and Charles Griffes, along with works like a late string quintet by Mozart and Dvořák’s beloved piano quintet.
Friday concerts begin at 7pm and Saturday concerts begin at 7:30pm.
June 29/30
Sonata, Serenades, Sketches
Debussy – Sonata for cello & piano (1915)
Coleridge Taylor – Piano Quintet in g minor Op.1
Coleridge-Taylor – from Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, Op.16
Beethoven – “Adelaide”
John Cage – In a Landscape (1948)
Vaughan Williams – from On Wenlock Edge (1909)
Performers: William Hite,tenor; New England Piano Quintet – Gregory Hayes, piano; Colleen Jennings and Kathy Andrew,violin; Marcia Cassidy, viola; John Dunlap, cello
July 4 at 4pm
Jazz with John Clark and Friends
Independence Day, Free Family concert on Riverbank, Charlemont Bridge/Rte 8A
Performers: John Clark, French Horn; Michael Rabinowitz, Bassoon; Freddie Bryant, Guitar;
Mark Egan, Bass ; Abe Fogle, Drums
July 6/7
Tribute to Kreisler, Mozart, for Abba
from String Quartet in a minor (1922) – Fritz Kreisler
Caprice Viennois & Liebeslied – Fritz Kreisler
Old refrain and Cradle Song – Fritz Kreisler
Five songs – Louis Moreau Gottschalk
String Quintet in g minor K.516 – W.A. Mozart
Performers: Maria Ferrante, soprano; Estela Olevsky, piano; Masako Yanagita, and Joel Pitchon, violin; Ronald Gorevic, and Peggy McAdams,viola; Volcy Pelletier, cello
July 13/14
Bolcom and Morris
A French Connection for Bastille Day
Chants négresses and Three Rags-Caprices – Milhaud
Songs and more – announced from the stage – Prévert/Kosma
Monsterpieces for young students
The Mad Monster, The Sad Monster
The Bad Mister, The Glad Mister – Bolcom
Performers:
William Bolcom, composer/piano; Joan Morris, mezzo-soprano
Guests: Julia Belyung, Hanna Ruhl – Students of local teachers
July 20/21
Parker Première and Harp Debut
Parker/Purington – Singing At Dawn Première
Debussy – Three Piano Études (1915)
Debussy – Syrinx (1913)
Fauré – Une chatelaine en sa tour Op.110 for harp (1904)
Debussy – Sonata, flute, violin, and harp (1915)
Jolivet – Chant de Linos, flute, string trio and harp
Performers:
Gail Blache-Gill, mezzo-soprano; Barbara Poeschl-Edrich, harp; Christopher Krueger, flute; Sharif Mamoun, percussion; Anne Koscielny, piano; Ronald Gorevic, violin: Masako Yanagita, viola; Mark Fraser, cello
July 27/28
Cultures Near & Far
Moravia, France, Ancient Far East, USA
Dvorak – Slavonic Dances (1904)
John Cage – Wonderful Widow of Eighteen Springs
Chausson – Le Temps de Lilas
Charles Griffes – Poems from the Ancient Far East
Dvořák – Piano Quintet in A Op.81
Performers: Anne Koscielny, Estela Olevsky, piano; Eileen Ruby, mezzo-soprano
The Bahn Quartet: Alicia Casey, Benjamin Van Vliet, violin; Hannah Van der Swaagh, viola; Nicole Fizznoglia, cello
