Shanghai Quartet appearing this weekend at Music Mountain

It all begins on Saturday, September 5th at 6:30 pm, with the “all Beethoven” twilight concert The Shanghai Quartet will perform: String Quartet in F Minor, Opus 95 (1810); Grosse Fugue, Opus 133, (1825); and String Quartet in B Flat Major, Opus 130 (1826).

On Sunday, September 6th at 3 pm, The Shanghai Quartet will re-create Music Mountain’s inaugural concert that was played by Music Mountain’s founder, Jacques Gordon and the Gordon String Quartet. The Shanghai Quartet will perform: Beethoven: String Quartet in C Major, Opus 59 # 3 (1806); Ravel: String Quartet in F Major (1903); and will be accompanied by Cuban-born pianist Juana Zayas for the Schumann: Piano Quintet in E Flat Major, Opus 44 (1842).

“Our first season opened on August 22, 1930 with the Gordon String Quartet playing Beethoven’s Third Razoumovsky Quartet, “ said Nicholas Gordon, president of the Music Mountain board and the son of Jacques Gordon. “We’re so excited to have a Music Mountain favorite, the Shanghai String Quartet, re-creating that concert as part of ‘Music Mountain Day’ across the state, and to celebrate the 80th Anniversary.”

The Shanghai Quartet first performed at Music Mountain 22 years ago when they filled in for the Julliard Quartet and they have returned ever since. Originally formed in Shanghai, this versatile ensemble is known for their passionate musicality, virtuosic technique and multicultural innovations. The Shanghai Quartet melds the delicacy of Eastern music with the power of Western repertoire, from traditional Chinese folk music to the most challenging classical works.

Weigang Li, the Shanghai Quartet’s first violinist said that the group loves performing at Music Mountain, in fact he said, “Music Mountain is the best place to go and hear chamber music in New England.”

On Sunday there will be three vintage cars on display at Music Mountain, thanks to Lime Rock Park. The track is hosting its Vintage Car Festival that weekend and they’ve offered the cars as part of the 80th Anniversary weekend.

On display will be a 1936 Cord 4-door, the art deco car of the time; a 1939 Ford “Woody” station wagon, much like the one that would have brought people from the train station to Music Mountain; and a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe, the chi –chi car of the time. Following Sunday’s concert there’s a champagne reception for guests and concertgoers.

Tickets for Saturday, September 5th are $30 at the door and $27 if purchased in advance. Student tickets are $17, and ages 5 -17 are free for regularly priced concerts. All tickets for Sunday, September 6th, are $80. For the Sunday concert children 18 and under are ½ price when accompanied by an adult.

Save-the-date for Paul Winter in concert at Music Mountain on Sunday, September 13th at 3 pm. Tickets for this concert are $50. Children 18 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available online at www.musicmountain.org, at the door the day-of, or by phone at 860-824-7126. Group rates are available. Bring a picnic lunch and a bottle of wine to enjoy before the concert.