Check out all the action at Shalin Liu Performance Center (sent by Karen Herlitz)

March Brings A Variety of Concerts at Rockport Music

Rockport Music presents the highest quality of concerts and presentations year-round at the stunning, seaside Shalin Liu Performance Center.  This March provides a variety of musical opportunities for people to enjoy—from classical to jazz to folk.

Classical Concerts
On Friday, March 15, at 8 pm, the East Coast Chamber Orchestra performs in its debut at the Shalin Liu Performance center with:

HOLST: St. Paul’s Suite ::  PURCELL: Fantasias in 4 Parts ::  STRAVINSKY: Concerto in D “Basle”

MOZART: Divertimento for strings in F major, K.138 :: Bartók: Divertimento for string orchestra, Sz.113

The East Coast Chamber Orchestra features soloist performers, principals in major American orchestras, and award-winning chamber musicians in a democratically organized, self-conducted chamber orchestra that thrives on the energy and camaraderie of classical music.   Their fresh interpretations of new and old works have been received by standing ovations and critical acclaim from The New York Times hailing that, “The sound of the ensemble mixed the transparency and coherence of a string quartet with an orchestra’s warmth and heft.”  To The Washington Post, “How did ECCO get such a huge sound from 17 instruments?  These youthful players are helping form classical music’s future.  Long may they ECCO.”  The Washington Post  Tickets:  $39-$58

Classical guitarist Benjamin Verdery performs Sunday, March 17 at 5 pm.  Described as “iconoclastic” and “inventive” by The New York Times and “one of the classical guitar world’s most foremost personalities,” by Classical Guitar Magazine, Benjamin Verdery is an internationally performing, prolific classical guitar composer with over fifteen albums since 1980. Chair of the guitar department at Yale University, he still tours internationally as well as records.  Curator of New York’s 92^nd St Y’s guitar series, he is a master of the serious art music of Bach, Janacek, and Strauss, but also blurs boundaries with his own solo acoustic interpretations of Jimi Hendrix.  Tickets: $19-$34

Jazz, Folk, Pop, and World Music
On Sunday, March 3 at 5 pm, the Bill & Bo Winiker Sextet, a Boston musical institution, will perform at the Shalin Liu Performance Center.  Bo and Bill Winiker were taught how to play music, and specifically jazz, by their father at a very young age.  Now, over 50 years later, they have moved on to record with Billy Joel and perform with Aretha Franklin at President Clinton’s inaugural ball.  With a repertoire of over 15,000 songs they cover for special occasions, they are also true jazz musicians.  Fred Taylor, founder of Sculler’s Jazz Club, says Bill and Bo Winiker are, “…really underappreciated for their great jazz knowledge and performance.”  Tickets: $15-$28

On Friday, March 8, at 8 pm, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the world-renowned Celtic ensemble Cherish the Ladies, the most sought-after Irish American group in the country. For nearly 25 years, the six-member, all-female group has been collecting awards and accolades from fans and critics worldwide, including the BBC’s Best Musical Group and Top North American Celtic Group at the Irish Music Awards. They have shared the stage with celebrated entertainers like James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, and The Chieftains. On their latest release, Country Crossroads, they teamed up with stars Vince Gill and Nanci Griffith; and their recording with the Boston Pops, The Celtic Album, led to a 1999 Grammy nomination.  “The band brilliantly…exudes a tremendous joie de vivre and deep nostalgia.” (The Irish Times-Dublin)  Tickets: $27-$49

Dubbed a “folk-rock goddess” by The New Yorker, singer-songwriter Catie Curtis performs on Saturday, March 9, at 8 pm at the Shalin Liu Performance Center.  A Lilith Fair alum and former tour mate of Mary Chapin Carpenter, this urban-folk powerhouse is one of the best singer-songwriters recording today.  Many of her recordings have been featured on episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Dawson’s Creek and other TV series.  “With a clear, deceptively gentle voice, she can turn on a dime and thrill the listener with unforeseen power and emotion.”  rollingstone.com  Tickets: $18-$32

HD Broadcasts
On Saturday, March 2, at 12 pm, Metropolitan Opera Live in HD broadcast of Wagner’s masterpiece Parsifal is aired live with interviews and behind-the-scenes insight.  Jonas Kaufmann makes his role debut as the title character in Parsifal, conducted by Daniele Gatti and directed by film and opera director François Girard in his Met debut. Tickets: $20-$32

On Saturday, March 16, at 12 pm, the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD broadcast of Zandonai’s early 20^th-century melodrama Francesca da Rimini returns to the Met for its first revival in more than 25 years, in Piero Faggioni’s production. Marco Armiliato conducts Eva-Maria Westbroek in the title role of a noblewoman who is tricked into marrying the brutal Gianciotto, sung by Mark Delavan, instead of her true love Paolo, sung by Marcello Giordani. Tickets: $20-$32

National Theatre of London presents People in a HD broadcast on Thursday, March 21, at 7 pm.

In this hilarious new play, celebrated playwright Alan Bennett (Madness of King George, The History of Boys) takes a stab at modern society by examining  the consequences of a self-serving government that turns a once-dignified nation into a “captive market,” with its people “rebranded as customers… available for easier exploitation.”   Through satirical social commentary, People offers up “classic Bennett comedy with a Downtown tinge” (Daily Express).  Tickets: $22 Adult, $15 Senior

For ticket information and details on these and other 2012-13 Season offerings, please visit our website at www.rockportmusic.org.  Tickets are also available through the Box Office at 978-546-7391 or visiting 35 Main Street, Rockport, MA.  The Box Office is open Monday-Friday, 10am-4 pm.