With a slight chill in the air and area trees taking on a beautiful hue, the change of seasons is upon us. Along with the bright colors of fall, October also brings with it the start of another season for one of the Capital District’s oldest and most venerable musical organizations, the Troy Chromatics.
Staffed exclusively by local volunteers dedicated to bringing classical music to the Capital District, the group has been successful in bringing classical music artists with worldwide reputations to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall so the families through the region can enjoy their rich sounds. Their efforts have put some of the most extraordinary musicians in the world within our reach, and this season is no exception, with the well-regarded Trio Solisti taking the stage on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.
Considered one of the finest chamber ensembles currently playing in the United States, the trio has drawn rave reviews at performances at Lincoln Center in New York City, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and a series of other high-profile venues. After an appearance in the Big Apple, a critic for The New York Times said the trio was compelling and consistently brilliant. After an impressive debut performance at Wolf trap in the suburbs outside the nation’s Capitol, a Washington Post reviewer also offered his praises.
`Trio Solisti dove into this music with unrelenting passion and zealous abandon,` the reviewer said. `At times zeal gave way to tender lyricism in a transcendent performance.`
Along with performing live, Trio Solisti has established itself among listeners nationwide with the appearances on the National Public Radio show `Performance Today` and `St. Paul Sunday` broadcasts as well. Working in a more permanent form, the ensemble has recorded several pieces for the Marquis Classics and Arabesque labels.
This weekend, their performance will highlight the works of three composers with strong popular appeal; Schubert, Moravec, and Tchaikovsky. Both Schubert and Tchaikovsky are perhaps best known for their larger works including the latter’s `1812 Overture` that has been recorded by several of the world’s best symphony orchestras with cannons firing as the piece nears its conclusion. But by design chamber music is composed with a more intimate setting in mind, allowing the clarity of each note and melody to be clearly heard.
`The Troy Music Hall setting is ideal for this type of music,` Ursula MacAffer, Troy Chromatic’s publicity chair said.
Tickets for Saturday’s concert can be purchased at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s Box Office before the 8 p.m. show. For information on Trio Solisti’s appearance or Troy Chromatics season tickets, call 273-0038.“
