Chamber Music Palisades will celebrate its 25th season starting with a concert at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 20, at St. Matthew’s. Board member Nancy Varat said, “We are very excited to be back in person.”
The concert will feature four superb musicians, including internationally acclaimed harpist Cristina Montes who has been called “One among the very few individuals who have reached the top of their field,” by Conductor Zubin Mehta, who is music director emeritus of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor emeritus of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Winner of the unanimously 1st Prize in the XII Edition of the “Torneo Internazionale di Musica” (Rome, 2006) and the unanimously 1st Prize in the International Harp Competition “V. Bucchi” (2009), Mateo is recognized as one of the leading harpists of her generation throughout the world.
She has also won top international prizes at the “Arpista Ludovico” International Harp Competition (Madrid, 2005), the “International Nippon Harp Contest” (Tokyo, 2007), and the prestigious Concours International de Harpe “Lily Laskine” (Paris, 2011); as well as numerous national harp solo competitions like the “Jeunesses Musicales” Competition (2003) or “Victor Salvi” Special Prize at the “Arpa Plus” Contest (2001).
She will be joined by violinist Madalyn Parnas Moller, who recently appeared as guest soloist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Also on the program is violist and composer Jonah Sirota, a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Chiara Quartet and currently a member of the California String Quartet.
French cellist Juliette Herlin, winner of the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe String Competition, who has performed throughout Europe, the U.S., and Asia, rounds out the list of performers.
The program will include “Nocturne” by Fermo Bellini, “Fantasy Sonata” by Arnold Bax, “Danza Espanola” by Manuel de Falla, a “Fantasy” by Saint-Saens, and a string trio by Beethoven.
Tickets can be purchased at the door ($35) or $120 for this year’s four-concert series. Guests must provide proof of vaccine and be prepared to wear masks.
Traditionally, CMP welcomes fulltime students with ID free of admission charge. The concert is sponsored by Ann Mulally and more information can be found at cmpalisades.org.