Music In The Mountains Springfest continues...

Featuring the Music in the Mountains Festival Chorale conducted by Ryan Murray;Aileen James & guest, piano four-hands;and Metropolitan Opera Baritone Richard Zeller
Brahms.... Liebeslieder-Walzer Op. 52
Schubert.... An Die Sonne
Stroope.... Amor Die Sonne
Lauridsen.... Dirait on
Clausen.... My Love's Like a Red Red Rose

This program is graciously sponsored by:
Commonwealth Financial Network, Terry M Brown, CFP©

Listen to Richard Zeller

CONCERT NOTES by Jack Roberts

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) A Change of Pace
Generally, we think of Brahms in terms of symphonies, concertos, and chamber works. But then there is that incredible choral collection (originally for piano four-hands), the Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op.52, a set of 18 beautifully melodic and rhythmically entrancing works. These poetic and musical odes were written in 1874, while Johannes was carrying that excruciatingly heavy torch for Clara Schumann – just a torch, no hanky-panky… Clara was a “professional” widow. Ah, the Waltzes!! What a change in feeling from the same pen that gave us the fiery Hungarian Dances a few years earlier – a true study in contrasts!

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) After Beethoven?
“Who can do anything after Beethoven”, asked Schubert, before he went about achieving sublime creative heights, giving us 600 songs, nine symphonies, song cycles, great chamber works, piano sonatas, masses and much more – each endowed with his unique lyricism and emotions. All this emanated from one who had no conservatory training, but did have piano and violin lesson from his brother and father. He was tutored for a time by Antonio Salieri (you remember Salieri!), and in 1810, the 13 year old Schubert wrote his first compositions – a piano fantasia and a string quartet – and thereafter never stopped expressing himself through magnificent melody.

A side note on Lieder: They are generally songs (‘lieder’ is the German word for ‘songs’) written to accompany poetry describing the beauty of nature, romance, tragedy, etc. Famous poets such as Goethe, Schiller and Heine were often used. Mahler wrote some of his own words, but should have stuck to the music. Typically, Lied (a single lieder) is composed for single voice and piano, but can also be for multiple voices or chorus and orchestra.

Hugo Wolf (1860-1903) Prolific Plus
Wolf is considered one of the greatest masters of the German Lied, or art song, with 300-500 songs to his credit (depending on the source). He entered the Vienna Conservatory of Music when he was 15, but was expelled after two years – a lack of discipline, so they said. Soon after he began writing songs, he experienced an unpleasant run-in with Brahms, had a romantic affair with the wife of a Viennese Court jeweler, was appointed second conductor of the Salzburg Orchestra (briefly and contentiously) and, finally, became music critic of a weekly Viennese newspaper. He enjoyed his journalism gig, taking potshots at a number of composers that irritated him.
After three years of this catharsis, he left the newspaper to compose full time. One of his major works was an eloquent set of 48 songs, The Italian Songbook. Many of his works were like short descriptive snapshots; others were longer and considered miniature symphonic poems. His last years were unhappy and damp: he tried to drown himself as had Schumann and Berlioz. Thankfully, all were unsuccessful. His last days were sadly spent confined in a mental hospital. And so it goes…

Details:
Directions:To Amaral Family Festival Center, Gate 1, Bldg. 1 in the Nevada County Fairgrounds: 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley. Take Highway 49 to Highway 20 toward Marysville. Take the first exit (right on Mill, right on McCourtney) and continue approximately ¼ mile. The Fairgrounds are on your right. Please follow the signs and park as directed. Amaral Family Festival Center is the red building next to the parking area.
Handicap Access: Park in Gate 1 parking lot. For more information call the Box Office 265-6124.
Order Your Tickets On-Line Above or:
By Phone: call (530) 265-6124 or (800) 218-2188
In Person: Between noon and 4pm, Monday thru Friday, 530 Searls Ave, Nevada City, CA.
Subscription orders are Priority filled until February 12.Tickets will be mailed starting in early March.

Don't miss...Snow Falling On Cedars...through April 10, 2010

The body of a local fisherman is found tangled in his net, and a Japanese-American fisherman is arrested for his murder. For the residents of an island in the Pacific Northwest, the wartime internment of the Japanese has left a bitter legacy, and the trial of Kabuo Miyamoto polarizes the community even further.
A white newspaperman may hold the key to the accused man's guilt or innocence. But Ishmael Chambers' sense of right and wrong is clouded by his enduring love for Kabuo's wife, Hatsue. Their biracial romance as children had been destroyed by fear and cultural prejudices. Still wounded, Ishmael must conquer his feelings before simmering pressures from all sides upend the scales of justice and tear the community apart.

Based on the 1994 best-selling novel by David Guterson, and winner of the 1995 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, "Snow Falling on Cedars" was adapted to the stage by Kevin McKeon in 2007. It premiered at Book-it Repertory Theatre in Seattle in the same year. Prior to the stage adaptation, it was made into a movie in 1999, which was directed by Scott Hicks and starred Ethan Hawke and Youki Kudoh. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. CATS is proud to be the first theatre company in California to produce this show and to have Mr. McKeon as its director.

Our cast includes Tucker Braga, Lyra Dominguez, Vann Dart, Ron Sasaki, Jed Dixon, Scott Young, Darryl Stines, Andrew Kerr, Diane Fetterly, Lisa Moon, Kerri Fulton, Allison Chan, Jez Freeman, John Bush, and Virgil Wong.

Tickets available February 2010 at the Book Sellers and Briar Patch Market in Grass Valley, and at the Nevada City Postal Company and Gold Mountain in Nevada City and online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ Contact mailto:info@catsweb.org for gift certificates and groups of 10 or more.

21st Annual Psychic Fair!

Sun, 11:00AM at Miners Foundry Cultural Center Nevada City, California!!

Come Celebrate the opening of Spring at the 21st Annual Psychic Fair held at the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, Nevada City, California in beautiful Nevada County! There will be a Metaphysical Market Place, Readers, Dancers, Body workers, Clinical Herbalist, Iridologist, Shamanic Healer. There are also workshops on Numerology, Crystal Healing, Sun Stones/Sun Transmissions for 2012, Crystal Skulls, Hopi Craft Booth, Hawaiian Craft Booth. The Spring Opening Ceremony will be in the Stone Room on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Saturday Night Program - 7pm to 9pm There are offering a special evening program with Hopi Corn Maiden Marlinda Kooyaquaptewa. Marlinda is from 1st Mesa on the Hopi Reservation where she works owns a store at the Hopi Cultural Center, and is a Hopi Guide when visitors come to Hopi.

Come join in on this wonderful event to kick off the springtime this year!!!

Grass Valley Spring Fling!!

SALES SALES SALES SALES SALES SALES SALES SALES!!! Promotions, entertainment, demos, raffles, door prizes, refreshments, big sales Get ready for Spring and Summer in Downtown Grass Valley. All the latest fashions, fads and must haves for the upcoming season!
Saturday March 20, 2010 10:00 - 6:00

Third Annual Kare Crisis Nursury Wildwest Casino Night!

KARE stands for Kid's Assistance and Respite in Emergencies. A local agency providing much needed emergency services and respite day care for children from birth through 5 years of age during times of stress for their families.The Kare Crisis Nursery will hold it's third annual Wild West Kasino Night from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 27, at Miner's Foundry Cultural Center, 25 Spring St., Nevada City . The event features a professional casino, delicious food, live entertainment, and a silent auction.

Please try to attend and let the kids know you really Kare!

Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door. They can also be purchased at BriarPatch Market, JJ Jacksons, or through the nursery web site at KareCrisisNursery.org.

For more information, call 530 265 0693.

A Matter of Taste Wine Tasting and Silent Auction!

March 13A Matter of Taste Wine Tasting and Silent AuctionTime: 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Tickets: Tickets are $20 each, $25 at the door. A Matter of Taste tickets can be purchased online through Brown Paper Tickets or at the locations listed below. Online Ticket Purchase: Brown Paper Tickets Please note there is a small surcharge of $1.99 added to each ticket purchase. Purchase tickets from Brown Paper Tickets. In-Person Ticket Purchase: BriarPatch Co-Op 290 Sierra College Drive Grass Valley, CA 95959 The Book Seller 107 Mill Street Downtown Grass Valley, CA 95959 Yabòbò 107 North Pine Street Downtown Nevada City, CA 95959 Nevada City School of the Arts Nevada City School of the Arts 13032 Bitney Springs Road Bldg. 8 Nevada City, CA 95959 Phone: (530) 273-7736 View Event Details530 273 7736