The Heath Quartet’s residency at Middlebury College continues with a second free concert at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in Robison Hall (the concert hall) at the Mahaney Center for the Arts. On the program are Béla Bartók’s Quartets No. 2, 4 and 6.
Their residency will also include many other activities such as coaching music students, visits with local elementary schools, pop-up concerts, and more.
The dynamic and charismatic Heath Quartet — composed of violinists Oliver Heath and Cerys Jones, violist Gary Pomeroy, and cellist Christopher Murray — was formed in 2002 at the U.K.’s Royal Northern College of Music. The quartet has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting British chamber ensembles today. Among their many honors are a Borletti-Buitoni Special Ensemble Scholarship and the 2012 Ensemble Prize at the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In May 2013 they became the first ensemble in 15 years to win the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artists Award.
The quartet recently released its latest CD, a recording of the complete quartet cycle of British composer Michael Tippett. Their next two recordings, due out this year on the Harmonia Mundi label, will feature Tchaikovsky quartets (studio recording) and Bartók quartets (recorded live at the Wigmore Hall).
This concert is being offered free of charge, thanks to generous support from the Sunderman Family Concert Endowment Fund. For more information call 443-6433 or go to middlebury.edu/arts.
SALLY OLSON IN CONCERT
Vermont singer, actress and artist Sally Olson makes a special appearance in Middlebury to present “A Song For You” at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. The performance will be accompanied by Tim Guiles, who also provides back-up vocals.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Charter House Coalition, providing emergency shelter housing during the winter months and free community meals every day of the week throughout the year.
This unique program draws on the Carpenters tribute concert that Olson originally performed in early 2015 with the Bill Reed Voice Studio, and has taken on tour throughout the state. In her tribute show, Olson performs the brother-sister duo’s greatest hits and covers. She also offers commentary on the history behind the Carpenters’ music, as well as Karen Carpenter’s rise to fame and her sudden and tragic death at the age of 32, due to complications of anorexia nervosa.
Through her tribute concert, Olson desires to honor Richard Carpenter’s musical genius and Karen Carpenter, one of the greatest female singers of all time. She incorporates authentic vintage costumes into her show to help recreate the world of the Carpenters. Reviewers of the show have noted that Sally Olson’s voice, appearance and stage-presence bear an uncanny resemblance to that of Karen Carpenter.
Olson is a graduate of Middlebury College (2003), Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Florence Academy of Art in Italy. She has been acting and singing since childhood.
Suggested admission IS $15, but any amount will be welcome. Limited parking may be found at the Church; plenty of parking is available nearby in the lot adjacent to the high school football field.
THE MCLANES IN BRISTOL
Join Annemieke McLane, piano, and Jeremiah McLane, accordion, for a unique evening of music at the WalkOver concert room in Bristol on Friday at 8 p.m.
This husband-and-wife duo will perform their arrangements of classical works based on traditional folk melodies from the 18th to the 21st centuries. Included in the program are compositions of Astor Piazzolla, Edvard Grieg, Francis Poulenc, Anton Dvorak, Alan Hovhaness and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Annemieke, a classically trained pianist, and Jeremiah, a dynamic and nuanced accordionist steeped in multi-faceted folk traditions, wanted to play music together. Their search for a repertoire that would fit their diverse musical backgrounds led them to create their own arrangements of existing folk-inspired classical music.
At turns energetic and introspective, exuberant and restrained, these two musicians use their dense and different musical backgrounds to richly layer color and voicing in their explorations in the world of musical expression.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of performance. Reservations may be made at 453-3188, ext. 2, or at [email protected].
INTERNATIONAL FILM SERIES
The exciting 2015-2016 Hirschfield International Film Series continues on Saturday at Middlebury College with the 2014 film, “The Look of Silence,” directed by Joshua Oppenheimer.
“The Look of Silence” is Oppenheimer’s powerful ?companion piece to the Oscar-nominated “T?he Act of Killing.?” Through Oppenheimer’s footage of perpetrators of the 1965 Indonesian genocide, a family of survivors discovers how their son was murdered, as well as the identities of the killers. The documentary focuses on the youngest son, an optometrist named Adi, who decides to break the suffocating spell of submission and terror by doing something unimaginable in a society where the murderers remain in power: He confronts the men who killed his brother and, while testing their eyesight, asks them to a?ccept responsibility for their actions.
The film, in Indonesian with English subtitles, will be shown at 3 and again at 8 p.m. in Dana Auditorium. It’s free. Some of the films in this series may be inappropriate for children.
LIVE MUSIC AT 51 MAIN
There will be three live musical events this week at Middlebury’s 51 Main. At 8 p.m. on Wednesday, the 51 Main Blues Jam continues. Dennis Willmott from Left Eye Jump will provide lead guitar, bass and drums and these guys will back you up or take a break and let you play. All musicians and blues fans are welcome. Everyone will get a chance to play.
Then, at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dayve Huckett, Art DeQuasie and Molly McEachen take to the stage to perform an interesting mix of popular and original music arranged for acoustic guitar, double bass and voice. Their repertoire spans a wide range of genres with lots of surprises throughout.
Finally, at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Revibe will perform. Revibe is a four-piece jam fusion band that blends tight composition with adventurous improvisation. The result is a unique and complex sound that transitions seamlessly between memorable songs and energetic improvisational segments.
All ages, no cover. For additional information visit www.go51main.com or phone 388-8209.
TWO BROTHERS TAVERN
There will be two live performances this week at Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury. Join Two Brothers every Wednesday at 9 p.m. for The Open Mic, an evening of music, comedy, or anything else, alternately hosted by Mark Sikora and Kai Stanley. Come cheer on your friends or let loose on the stage. It’s free to enter and there is no cover charge.
Then on Saturday, the tavern presents Phil Yates & The Affiliates at 9 p.m. Phil Yates brings his authentic brand of indie rock to Two Brothers Lounge. There is a $3 cover charge. For more information, call Two Brothers at 388-0002.
CRACKER DUO AT VOH
Last but not least, The Cracker Duo will perform at the Vergennes Opera House on Sunday, at 8 p.m. This will be a rare performance with David Lowery and Johnny Hickman playing as the Cracker Duo. Kelly Ravin of Waylon Speed will open the show. A cash bar will be provided by Bar Antidote.
Tickets are $21.75, available online at Flynn Tix: http://bit.ly/CrackerVOH or by phone at 802-86-FLYNN.