'Winter Winds' Saturday, February 22, 2pm, Rocks Estate, Bethlehem

Join the North Country Chamber Players at the magnficent Rocks Estate, Glessner Road, Bethlehem, as they perform pieces by Beethoven, Taffanel and Thompson.

The North Country Chamber Players have adopted a “Pay-What-You-Wish” ticket pricing for concerts. Seating is limited, so attendees are asked to make free online reservations.
The recommended ticket price is $25, payable at the door, but there is no minimum ticket price required for entry.

Come celebrate Winterlude 2025 with the North Country Chamber Players as they debut a new concert space with a program that illuminates the beauty and versatility of woodwinds and brass instruments over three centuries. Beethoven’s magnificent Quintet for piano and winds was one of his own signature pieces as a performer and, during the past 47 seasons, it has become one of the Chamber Players’ important signature pieces, as well. Inspired by Mozart’s work, composed only ten years earlier, for the same combination, the young, pre-symphonic Beethoven infused this piece with his own singular personality, featuring some of the thrilling, rhapsodic and often humorous qualities that marked many of his subsequent works. The French Romantic composer, Paul Taffanel, won an important composition competition with his Woodwind Quintet in 1876, a work that was praised for its elegant melodies, rhythmic drive, brilliant virtuosity and compelling timbral combinations. Harvard-trained Randall Thompson’s charming, neoclassical Suite for oboe, clarinet and viola, will round out this uplifting afternoon.

‘WINTER WINDS’

---PROGRAM---

Randall Thompson Suite for oboe, clarinet and viola (1940)

(1899-1984)

Paul Taffanel Woodwind Quintet in G Minor (1876)

(1844-1908)

---intermission---

Ludwig van Beethoven Quintet for piano and winds in Eb Major, Op. 16 (1796)

(1770-1827)

---ARTISTS---

Susan Nidel, flute

Kemp Jernigan, oboe

Todd Palmer, clarinet

Alexander Davis, bassoon

Bernhard Scully, horn

Bernard Rose, piano

Ah Ling Neu, viola

Children are welcome. Ask for our instrument-themed coloring books and crayons too.

Host or Publisher North Country Chamber Players