Dream With Us: Firebrand Concert Series

FIREBRAND CONCERT SERIES OPENS 2012-2013 SEASON WITH MUSIC OF DREAMS

Dream With Us to be presented Friday, October 12th at 7:30PM

St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish at 26 Washington St. in Malden, MA

MALDEN, MA—September 20, 2012—Firebrand Concert Series, under the artistic direction of Diana Golden, awakens from its summer siesta to present the first concert of its second season. Entitled Dream With Us, the concert program includes works that ponder dreams of music, love, and life. Featuring soprano Jean Danton, violinist Peter Stickel, and Diana Golden on cello, and pianist Yelena Beriyeva, the evening will hold chamber music from baroque and classical works to musical theatre and new works, with songs in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and English.

Firebrand invites audiences to explore with them what these works reveal about dreams as universal means of inspiration. The timeless childhood dreams of never wanting to grow old and learning to fly are found in Bernstein’s musical adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s play Peter Pan. Mozart and librettist Metastasio write on dreams of the beloved, while Purcell (text by John Dryden and Nathaniel Lee) dreams of music which, “for a While/Shall all your cares beguile.” For Villa-Lobos and writer Ruth Valladares Corrêa, even the moon dreams, as it “gently rises into infinity, adorning the evening, like a sweet maiden dreamily getting ready, making herself beautiful, desiring her soul to be beautiful.”  Likewise, contemporary composers Paul Schoenfield and Oliver Caplan draw upon their dreams as aspiring composers. Café Music was written by Paul Schoenfield as high-class dinner music during his stint working in a piano bar and Fanfare for the Importance of Imagination, by Firebrand’s 2012-2013 Composer-in-Residence Oliver Caplan, was written as he was laying the groundwork for his career as a composer. Says Mr. Caplan, "Amidst choruses of excitement, plenty of raised eyebrows and my own fears of failure, holding to this anthem [the importance of imagination] keeps my focus on the dream." As Firebrand artists believe in using music as a powerful tool to address social issues and urban challenges, this concert is a tribute to those who struggle to change the world through their dreams.

The program:

"Music for a While" ... Henry Purcell        
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Nana, Canción ...Manuel de Falla                  
Café Music: Allegro ...Paul Schoenfield    
Bachianas Brasileiras: Aria (Cantilena) ...Heitor Villa-Lobos       
Fanfare for the Importance of Imagination ...Oliver Caplan

"L'amerò, sarò costante" from Il re pastore ...W.A. Mozart            
"Dream With Me" from Leonard Bernstein's musical adaptation of Peter Pan 

Known for attracting exceptional and highly sought-after professional musicians with advanced degrees from the world’s top conservatories, Firebrand performs high-quality, innovative, educational, and fun chamber music concerts for the greater Boston area. Firebrand Concert Series is committed to honoring and celebrating the vibrant diversity of cultures in Malden through creative and varied programming with which audiences can identify.

Audience members are welcome to meet the artists at a free reception of wine and dreamy chocolate cake following the concert.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $12 via www.firebrandconcertseries.com or on the day of the concert at the door for $15. Family and group discounts are available at the door by e-mailing a request to firebrandconcertseries@gmail.com or by calling St. Paul’s Parish Office at (781) 324-9544 during regular business hours.

Firebrand Concert Series will present four more concerts this season, including a Community Workshop and Performance with participation by members of the community, a concert highlighting Local Composers of the greater Boston area, and Masterworks performances of Piano Trios and String Quartets.

The remaining Firebrand 2012-2013 Season Schedule is:

Saturday, December 8, 2012 5pm

Community Music Workshop 

Members of the community participate in workshop sessions to learn more about how music works and create music together.

Saturday, January 26, 2013 7:30pm

Local Composers Spotlight

Curated by Composer-in-Residence Oliver Caplan, this concert will feature premieres of new music by regional composers as well as Caplan's My Elephant Cloud.

Saturday, March 9, 2013 8pm

Haydn and Dvorak in Bohemia

Exploration of Haydn’s “Gypsy” trio, XV:28 and Dvořák’s "Dumky" trio.

Saturday, April 27, 2013 8pm

String Quartet Masterworks

Features string quartet masterworks by Mendelssohn and Shostakovich as well as a commissioned quartet by Oliver Caplan written for Firebrand Concert Series.