September 24, 1998

Contact:
Press Contact: Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940
Public Contact: Concert Line (202) 707-5502

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Library of Congress 1998-1999 Concert Series Opens October 1

On Oct. 1, the Library of Congress concert series returns to the acoustically superb Coolidge Auditorium in the Library's Thomas Jefferson Building. The Juilliard String Quartet opens the 35-event 1998-99 season, which offers distinguished chamber music performances, jazz and world music concerts, a scholarly symposium on a cornerstone of American popular music history, "The Motown Sound," as well as lectures, master classes and open rehearsals in the spring.

All concerts begin at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium unless otherwise noted on the schedule that follows.

A quintet of distinguished composers will see first performances of their Library of Congress commissions in the coming season. Elliott Carter's Piano Quintet, commissioned in honor of his 90th birthday, will be premiered by Ursula Oppens and the Arditti String Quartet. John Zorn's new violin-and-piano duo is a commission of the Library's McKim Fund, as are works by jazz pianist and composer Cecil Taylor and Boston-based Korean American composer Donald Sur. Herman Berlinski's memorial cantata, Maskir Neshamoth (In Remembrance of the Soul), will be heard for the first time in a special concert marking the 60th anniversary of Kristallnacht, presented in collaboration with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Many of the events scheduled for the coming season are unique to the Library, including first American appearances by ensembles such as Spain's Al Ayre Español and Quatuor Mosaïques, a period-instrument string quartet from Paris. Pianist Mitsuko Uchida makes a rare chamber appearance with the Brentano String Quartet - a concert that is being performed at the Library of Congress and only three other venues around the world. A Gerry Mulligan Tribute in April featuring chamber-size Mulligan works performed by seven of the composer's colleagues and friends, marks the Library's acquisition of the Gerry Mulligan Collection for the Music Division archives.

All Library of Congress concerts are free, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available, approximately six weeks in advance of the event, from TicketMaster for a nominal handling charge. Patrons are advised to use TicketMaster's Maryland number, (301) 808-6900, for the best response time for Library of Congress events. Interested concertgoers may also call (202) 432-7328, (703) 432-7328, (410) 752-1200, or visit one of TicketMaster's outlets in person (including Hecht's department stores, Tower Records and Kemp Mill Music). The toll-free telephone number outside the Washington metropolitan area is (800) 551-7328.

Since tickets to popular events are often quickly given away, concert patrons are encouraged to try for no-show tickets at the door the evening of the concert by arriving at the Coolidge Auditorium by 6:30 or 7 p.m. During the last concert season, seats were always available at curtain time.

The full schedule for the season, with "sale" date for tickets, follows.

SEASON CALENDAR

Event Date Concert/Event

Tickets Available

Oct. 1-2 The Juilliard String Quartet
Aug. 31

Oct. 16 Al Ayre Español
Aug. 31 Music of 18th Century Spain
AMERICAN DEBUT

Oct. 22 David and Solomon
Sept. 7 (Israeli World Music)
Habrera Hativit (The Gathering)
With guest singer David
Presented in collaboration with The Embassy of Israel

Oct. 23 Opus One
Sept. 7 Ida Kavafian, Steven Tenenbom, viola
Peter Wiley, cello, Anne-Marie McDermott, piano
FIRST OFFICIAL APPEARANCE OF THIS ENSEMBLE

Oct. 24 Ida Kavafian Master Class, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sept. 7 Presented in collaboration with The Levine School of Music

Nov. 6 Axel Strauss, violin, Rohan de Silva, piano
Sept. 21 Mr. Strauss is the winner of the 1998
Walter W. Naumburg Violin Award
Pre-concert lecture: Violinist Robert Mann

Nov. 18 Arditti String Quartet with Ursula Oppens
Oct. 5 WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCE
Of Elliott Carter's Piano Quintet,
Commissioned by the Library of Congress

Nov. 19 Kristallnacht 60th Anniversary
Oct. 5 Dresden String Quartet
Presented with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
PREMIERE OF HERMAN BERLINSKI'S MEMORIAL CANTATA,
Maskir Neshamoth (In Remembrance of the Soul), a Library of Congress commission for vocal quartet,
string quartet, percussion and chamber chorus

Nov. 20 The Motown Sound: A Symposium
Oct. 5 Panelists include Claudette Robinson and Bobby Rogers of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles;
producer/songwriter William "Mickey" Stevenson

Dec. 18 The Juilliard String Quartet
Nov. 2 Antonio Stradivari Anniversary Concert Pre-concert lecture, the Stradivari Society

Feb. 12 Cecil Taylor, piano
Dec. 28 Premiere of Mr. Taylor's Library of Congress commission, piano and violin duo

Feb. 19 Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra
Jan. 4 Scott Yoo, conductor, Karol Bennett, soprano

Feb. 27 Kim Kaskashian, viola
Jan. 11 Peter Nagy, piano

March 19 Music from the Great Lakes Chamber
Feb. 1 Festival; James Tocco, piano
Miriam Fried, violin, and The St. Lawrence Quartet

March 20 James Tocco Master Class
Feb. 1 11a.m. - 1 p.m.

April 6 Gerry Mulligan Tribute
Feb. 2 An evening of chamber-size Mulligan Works headlined by Bob Brookmeyer and Randy Brecker

April 9 The Masada Trio
Feb. 22 WORLD PREMIERE; Library of Congress Commission by John Zorn

April 15-16 The Beaux Arts Trio
March 1

April 22-23 The Juilliard String Quartet
March 8 Menahem Pressler, piano
Young Uck Kim, violin
Antonio Meneses, cello

April 24 Joel Smirnoff Master Class
March 8 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

April 29 Romain Guyot, clarinet
March 15

April 30 Quatuor Mosaïques
March 15 FIRST AMERICAN APPEARANCE

May 14 Mitsuko Uchida, piano
March 29 and Brentano String Quartet
NORTH AMERICAN EXCLUSIVE

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PR 98-154
9/2498
ISSN 0731-3527