Continuing our Music on Saturdays series, we welcome Ensemble Aubade for the unique Old World, New World Soundscapes concert. The centerpiece is the spectacular Trio Opus 45 by the great 19th century composer Louise Farrenc, famous in her time but seldom heard today. She was professor at the Paris Conservatory, an esteemed composer, an acclaimed pianist, and a successful music publisher. Her life makes an interesting story for the audience, and her music is magnificent.

Another highlight is Mozart’s lyrical Kegelstatt Trio, K. 498, with Bloom on alto flute (“wonderfully smoky and mysterious” -EarRelevant).

The concert finale is Seven Postcards to Old Friends (1966), an exhilarating and rarely-heard chamber work by the legendary Broadway arranger Robert Russell Bennett who orchestrated hits like Show Boat, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, The King and I, and South Pacific.

About Ensemble Aubade

Ensemble Aubade (Peter H. Bloom, flute and alto flute; Francis Grimes, viola; Steven Sussman, piano) performs throughout the United States, with appearances for The Saint Louis Art Museum, Saugerties Pro Musica (NY), Kimberton Arts Alliance (PA), The Nielsen Series in Des Moines, Harvard-Epworth Concert Series in Cambridge, The Master Arts Series in Knoxville, The Robert H. Wood Great Artists Series (NY), The James Blackstone Memorial Library (CT), Sundays on the Hill (Weston VT), Foothills Piano Festival (AL), The Garmany Music Series (CT), Music on McFarland (NY), and other venues.

 Peter H. Bloom, flute, whose playing has been called “a revelation for unforced sweetness and strength” (The Boston Globe), performs in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand; is featured on 48 recordings; is contributing editor for Noteworthy Sheet Music; and is a winner of the American Musicological Society’s Noah Greenberg Award.  Bloom has performed in London, Bangkok, Canberra, Wellington, Ottawa and other world capitals, and in hundreds of cities across 40 states and four continents.   He has concertized with distinguished artists including Ensemble Chaconne, The Henning Ensemble, D’Anna Fortunato, and the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra (50th season).  Bloom has given lectures and master classes across the globe.  He holds an MM with distinction in flute performance from New England Conservatory of Music, and a BA (philosophy) from Boston University. 

Francis Grimes, viola, has performed with the Boston Pops, Boston Opera, Boston Ballet, Masterworks Chorale, Sinfonova, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, and other distinguished ensembles, and regularly serves in the orchestras of the venerable Colonial and Schubert Theatres. He toured nationally with the Star Wars Orchestra and performed with choral groups in tours of Italy, England and the Czech Republic.  He attended Boston University’s School of Fine Arts and completed his BM at Indiana University as a student of William Primrose.

Steven Sussman, piano, is acclaimed as a soloist, accompanist, chamber musician and orchestral member, performing classical music, jazz, and musical theater in New England and across the United States.  He is the director of Opera Presto, serves on the faculty at The Rivers Conservatory of Music, teaches at the St. Marks School, toured previously with Brown Bag Opera, and was staff accompanist at Berklee College of Music. He earned a Master of Music in performance from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Music from Indiana University, where his principal teachers were Enrica Cavallo-Gulli and Jorge Bolet.

Join us for the power of live music - register to let us know you are coming! Generously sponsored by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.