French horns take center stage at Chamber Music on the Fox concerts
Chamber Music on the Fox is spotlighting the French horn in its first concert of the year, featuring works by Beethoven and Brahms.
Known for its lush and lyrical tone, the horn will be an integral part of two pieces on the program: Beethoven’s Sextet for Two Horns and String Quartet, and Brahms’ Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano in E-flat major.
The program, titled “Music for Horns, Piano, and Strings,” also includes Gabriela Lena Frank’s “Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout,” performed by string quartet.
In this chamber music setting, hornists Matthew Oliphant and Rachel Velvikis will give this the French horn a spotlight and allow audiences to hear the beauty and versatility of this unique instrument.
In Beethoven’s sextet, the horns are joined by string quartet members Eleanor Bartsch, Eric Pidluski, Rebecca Swan and Sara Sitzer.
The Brahms trio will also feature Liang-wu Wang on piano, as well as Eleanor Bartsch on violin and Rachel Velvikis on horn.
Tickets are $25 ($15 for students and seniors) and can be purchased at chambermusiconthefox.org.
The concert schedule will be: 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at New England Congregational Church, 406 W. Galena Blvd. in Aurora; and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at First Congregational Church, 256 E. Chicago St. in Elgin.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Chamber Music on the Fox is a world class chamber music series serving the Fox valley region with engaging, enriching, and immersive live performances.
Founded by bass trombonist Mark Fry and cellist Sara Sitzer in 2014, it introduces its audiences to renowned local, national, and international artists in intimate, informal settings where patrons have an opportunity to see and hear the artists up close and personal.
Along with the subscription series that runs from October through May, the Chamber Music on the Fox also offers free family concerts each summer in partnership with Lords Park Zoo as well as other special programming, including collaborations with the Gail Borden Public Library. It relies on generous donations from individuals, sponsorships, grants, and ticket sales. To learn more or support Chamber Music on the Fox, visit www.chambermusiconthefox.org. For updates, follow @ChamberMusicOnTheFox on Instagram and Facebook.
Chamber Music on the Fox is supported in part by funding from Anonymous, S.E. Ainsworth Family, The City of Elgin, Illinois Arts Council, Otto Engineering, The Palmer Foundation, The Seigle Foundation, and Wolko Design Group. Season 11 of Chamber Music on the Fox is presented by Mark and Robin Seigle.