Crowden School publicist Jen Strauss may be somewhat biased, but she is also known for her veracity, so take her quotes of enraptured concert-goers for granted:
"This was the best faculty concert I've ever attended!" and "I can't believe this concert is free!" The subject is what Strauss calls "one of Crowden's best-kept secrets, our Summer Chamber Music Workshop Faculty Concert."
Looking at the program and performers, there is no doubt that no money can buy an event like this, so it's just as well that at 6:30 p.m. this Friday, in the Crowden Music Center, no admission is charged for the concert. Obviously, it will be crowded, so get there early.
In the dizzying lineup — Schubert, Mozart, Brahms, Fauré, Bartók, Tchaikovsky — one name caught my attention: Egberto Gismonti, whose Palhaço is on the program.
Given Gismonti's Wiki bio, Strauss' "off-the-record guess is that Evan Price (of Hot Club of SF and formerly of Turtle Island) has something to do with the repertoire choice." The guess is now on the record ... and confirmed.
Says Eugene Sor of the Crowden faculty:
The workshop's entire string faculty will take the stage to perform Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti's Palhaço. Trained in France by Nadia Boulanger and Jean Barraqué, Gismonti's music explores Brazilian influences from Heitor Villa-Lobos to the Amazon Indians' batuque. Crowden faculty member Evan Price, who will conduct the work, says that "this piece is recognized as one of his best compositions. The title of the piece translates in English as "clown," but the music expresses happiness and sadness. It is bittersweet.
Oh, and the Baumer Quartet (Nathan Olson, Aaron Requiro, JT Posadas, and David Requiro) will perform Schubert's glorious Quartettsatz! Save me a place.