Coastal Concerts to launch 15th anniversary season Oct. 19

Coastal Concerts, celebrating its 15th year of bringing some of the world’s finest classical chamber musicians to Lewes, has announced programs for its 2013-14 season. The five-concert series, from October to March, will feature acclaimed artists from around the world. The lineup includes a top-tier American string quartet, a pair of virtuoso guitarists from Brazil, an emerging star violinist of Mexican and Basque descent, a much-heralded young string quartet from Denmark and a Taiwanese pianist known for her dazzling artistry.

All concerts will take place on Saturdays in downtown Lewes at wheelchair-accessible Bethel United Methodist Church Hall, Fourth and Market streets. The first and last concerts in the series will have a 7 p.m. starting time, one hour earlier than in previous seasons. The other three concerts will begin at 2 p.m.

The season opens Oct. 19 with an appearance by one of America’s most admired chamber ensembles, the Orion String Quartet. Together for more than 25 years, the players currently serve as artist members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. In addition to short pieces by Stravinsky and Webern, the 7 p.m. program will include the "K. 590 String Quartet" by Mozart and the "Op. 41, No. 3" by Schumann.

The matinee concert Nov. 16 will offer something different - music with a Latin flavor and pulse. The Brasil Guitar Duo, equally at home on a classical or world-music stage, will play works from the standard repertoire followed by traditional music of their homeland such as choro, samba, maxixe and baiao. The duo is a past winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition.

The Danish String Quartet, a Coastal Concerts audience favorite, makes an encore appearance Feb. 8. The matinee will feature string quartets by Mendelssohn, "Op. 13, No. 2," and Beethoven, "Op. 132." Hailed by Alex Ross of The New Yorker for their rampaging energy, the members of the Danish are drawing high praise these days for their vital performances and superb recordings.

The final matinee of the season March 1 showcases the extraordinary talents of young violinist Elena Urioste. A BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist,  Urioste has wowed critics and audiences alike with her expressive playing and commanding stage presence. Partnered with talented pianist Michael Brown, she will play works by Schoenfield, Elgar, Britten and Copland, as well as music from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.”

Virtuoso pianist Ching-Yun Hu will round out the season March 22 performing a challenging and intriguing program: the "Sonata No. 2, Op. 35" by Chopin, the “Iberia Suite” by Albeniz, “Goyescas” by Granados, and “Gaspard de la Nuit” by Ravel. A first-class talent, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Hu has been described as “musical, energetic and full of flair” by The Jerusalem Post.

The Brasil Guitar Duo, Danish String Quartet and Elena Urioste will perform concerts in local schools during their visits to the Lewes area. Through these events, Coastal Concerts gives young audiences a chance to hear and interact with professional musicians of the highest caliber.

Tickets to the new season are on sale now at coastalconcerts.org. A full-season subscription is available for $150. Individual tickets are $30. Ages 10-18, along with one adult per youth, are admitted free with advance reservations made by calling 888-212-6458.

Coastal Concerts is a nonprofit organization promoting classical music appreciation in central Delmarva. Programs are made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Brasil Guitar Duo and Danish String Quartet engagements are Delaware Performing Arts Presenters Initiative projects, made possible through funding by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Delaware Division of the Arts.