Season III of Chamber Music at The Playhouse began on Thursday, October 9 with The Amabile Bach Ensemble playing some selections by J.S. Bach.
Catherine Sherwin began the evening with the flute solo Partita in a minor. We were enchanted by the lovely sound of her flute.
Then, to give Cathy a brief rest, the ensemble (Michael J. McGillivray and Joseph Deller on violins, Colette Mataj on viola, Susan Clark Joul on cello, Dale Anderson on bass and Robert Conway on harpsichord) played the hauntingly beautiful Air, from the Suite No. 3 in D Major.
Cathy rejoined the ensemble to play the Ouverture from Suite No. 2 in b minor. We could see in our minds the dancers prancing and whirling around The Founders Room.
After a brief intermission, during which we enjoyed the traditional sweets and coffee, we were treated to the marvelous Brandendburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major.
The audience responded with a standing ovation.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Motor City Horns and The Brothers Groove
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The Brothers Groove, formed in 1999, has been regarded as one of Detroit's best live bands, having collected 22 Detroit Music Awards including (in 2008) Outstanding Modern Jazz Group and Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist. And now we saw (and heard) why. Their sound is a mixture of Jazz, Funk, Blues and Soul which is instantly familiar yet distinctly original.
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Led by Chris Codish on keyboard and vocals, the combined group included Skeeto Valdez on drums (and vocals), special guest Pat Prouty on bass, John Rutherford on trombone, Mark Byerly on trumpet, Bob Jensen on trumpet and Keith Kaminski on saxophone.
We were also treated to a special guest appearance by Johnnie Bassett, well-known around Detroit with his vocals and guitar.
Bob Jensen coordinated a dazzling array of equipment that generated a powerful, clear sound.
Their musical selections included Cadillac Blues by Bob Codish, Caravan by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol, Coming Back, Mo' Room and Casual Observer by Chris Codish, Tune 88 by Jeff Lorber, Waltz for Hornz by Michael Nelson, and It's About the Dollar Bill and Superman Lover by Johnny "Guitar" Watson.
The group played on the Main Stage of The Players Playhouse, and filled the entire building (maybe even the entire E. Jefferson neighborhood) with fabulous sounds. We will remember this evening for a long time.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Detroit Reed Collective
Thursday, March 13 was another fun evening of Chamber Music at The Playhouse. Mark Berger, Mark Kieme, Paul Onachuk and Pete Kahn, through their musical program The American Saxophone, gave us a delightful history of the saxophone in this country from the turn-of-the-century (with pieces by Klickmann, Henlere and Grieg) to the present (highlighted by a composition by Mark Kieme that was described by Pete Kahn as making him think of three mosquitoes and a rhinoceros). The harmonies created by the four saxophones in the various musical pieces were marvelous.
As we have come to expect, the fun that the musicians had playing carried over to the audience, with everyone enjoying the evening immensely.
Thanks again to The Detroit Reed Collective.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Joan Belgrave and Friends
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This will be an unforgetable evening, so make plans to attend with some of your own best friends.
For details, check out
http://fineartssociety2.blogspot.com/2006/09/chamber-music-at-playhouse.html
or visit Joan's own web site at
http://joanbowbelgrave.com/
And The Winner Is...
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Mitch Albom's play 'And The Winner Is...' entertained Fine Arts members and guests on May 30 and 31 at The Players Playhouse. This was only the third time this play by the local celebrity author was ever produced.
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Flavored with Albom’s signature introspection, And The Winner Is... has all the charm of It’s A Wonderful Life for life in the fast lane.
Even the back-stage crew (Sally Van Deventer, Jonathan Davis, Jesse Villegas, Bob Lee, Laurie Striebel and Gina Telford) had fun.
The Art of the Horn Section
Come see and hear The Motor City Horns and The Brothers Groove on Thursday, May 15.
John Rutherford, Mark Byerly, Keith Kaminski, Chris Codish and Skeeto Valdez promise an entertaining evening of Blues and funk. They will play some jazz standards and some original music.
45 Seconds From Broadway
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A cafe in midtown-Manhattan's tourist-class Edison Hotel, a long-time watering hole for struggling actors, aspiring writers, standup comics, and suburban matinee ladies, was the backdrop for this hilarious Neil Simon comedy.
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Simon's typical one-liners flew fast and furiously throughout comic the first act; then the play took a more serious turn worthy of an Arthur Miller drama in Act II when Mickey's older brother pleads with him to help hid son become the comedian he desperately wants to be. Charles finally vents his frustrations.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Heart Strings
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We loved it all!
The first half the the program started with the overture to Mozart's The Impressario, then went on with Massenet'e Meditation from Thais, and included songs by Sullivan, Cole Porter, Lennon & McCartney, their version of Dueling Cellos, Pavan: The Earl of Salisbury by Byrd, and finally the Pizzicato Polka by Strauss.
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This concert was a rousing success as Theatre Arts' fundraiser for the Eva Woodbridge Victor scholarship, with the current scholarship recipient (Cory Johnson), in attendance with her portfolio of accomplishments in Wayne State University theater.
Thank you to The Adventure Club Cello Quartet!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
The Amabile Tango Trio
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The second season of Chamber Music at The Playhouse continues to provide us with seldom-heard, but fascinating music.
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A diverse audience that nearly filled The Founders Room heard Cathy play Syrinx by
Claude Debussy, Cathy and Mike with Jean Baptiste Loeillet de Gant's Sonata in G Major, Mike and Tom playing Paganini's Cantabile for Violin and Guitar and four of Piazzolla's tangos.
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We were then treated to Joseph Kreutzer's Trio for Flute, Viola and Guitar.
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After a brief intermission with coffee and cookies provided by Sally VanDeventer and Joann Castle, we heard Cathy and Tom's version of Histoire du Tango and Martin Taylor's Musette for a Magpie.
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What a fabulous way to spend a winter evening!
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