‘Dinner in Leipzig’ Concert to Bring Classical Masters to Life
Since writing my first piece about the upcoming CVCP (Colorado Valley Chamber Players) concert of piano and violin, two major epiphanies burst through to my brain.
The first, violinist Dr. Matt Lammers is the amazing real deal. We may already be familiar with the excellence of Fayette County’s own Miles Gillette-Bockhorn’s piano and organ talents. Now we have the virtuosic Lammers coming to La Grange – yet another musical force of nature. The two are about to join forces for what promises to be a combustible result. Now to explain more about Lammers.
Matt is a member of the American Prize-winning Axiom Quartet. Now in its eleventh year and as Texas Touring Artists, the Axiom Quartet have given critically acclaimed performances and premieres across the U.S. and abroad. He is also a Core Member of the Grammynominated and National Endowment for the Arts recipient Kinetic Ensemble, recognized as one of the nation’s most adventurous conductor-less chamber orchestras.
In 2019, Matt was awarded the City of Houston’s generous Support for Artists and Creative Individuals Grant for commissioning, producing, and performing Michael Alec Rose’s chamber opera-ballet Lolly Willowes. Invested in historical performance as well as new music, he has published solo violin transcriptions of Lute Sonatas by Sylvius Leopold Weiss, as well as J.S. Bach’s D-minor Toccata and Fugue. Matt holds degrees from Vanderbilt University and Rice University, where he earned his DMA as the Itzhak Perlman Fellow.
The concert features the music of three great classical composers – Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Grieg. They famously got together on January 1, 1888, in Leipzig for many toasts and fellowship after years of indifference. This historic gathering, known as the “Dinner in Leipzig” is also the theme for this second concert of the new nonprofit CVCP, founded by musicians Gillette-Bockhorn and Isabelle Jamois. Grieg’s dramatic, show-stopping “Sonata for Violin and Piano, No 3 in C Minor, Op. 45, promises to be the highlight of this musical feast.
Another thing that struck me is this: some of my friends –– those of my generation perhaps –– don’t quite know how to navigate, “go online an buy your tickets.”
So for them and as a public service announcement to all, here goes: Open Google on your computer and enter this in the Google box: www. cvchamberplayers. org;
Click on “Events” at the top of the home page; Choose July 25 Concert; Choose (i.e., click on) the green square that says, Tickets; Follow instructions with credit card in hand (your credit card is secure) Now, you’re done. They have your name. You will be admitted at the front door.
See you at St. James on Saturday, July 25, 3 p.m., front door entrance on Monroe. Don’t miss what promises to be a musical feast – “Dinner in Leipzig.”