"Autumn Sunrise" Concerts in Great Falls
The Great Falls Symphony’s Cascade Quartet presents “Autumn Sunrise” for the November concerts on the 2017-2018 Chamber Music Series. The concerts take place at 2PM on Sunday, October 22, at First Congregational Church UCC and 7PM on Tuesday, October 24, at the C.M. Russell Museum. Single admission is $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. Season passes are available for purchase for $75.00 for adults and $25.00 for students. Season passes are punch cards which grant seven admissions in any combination. Single admission tickets and season passes are available for purchase online at gfsymphony.org or at the door. For more information, contact the Symphony office at 406-453-4102 or visit gfsymphony.org.
The “Autumn Sunrise” program spans a broad period in the timeline of string quartet literature. Eighteenth century composer Franz Joseph Haydn’s luminous Sunrise Quartet is an apt beginning for the concert, with an opening melody described by cellist Thad Suits as having “ascending and expectant qualities suggesting the start of something big.” Philip Glass’ Company follows; it is a work which was originally composed as incidental music for Samuel Beckett’s play of the same name. Glass, a minimalist composer born in 1937, “uses the repetition and slow evolution of simple motifs over a steady beat to create a hypnotic effect” says Suits. In contrast, Carl Nielsen’s Quartet in G follows with restless energy and drama, incorporating playful Danish fiddle tunes into the musical texture.
The “Autumn Sunrise” concert is an especially meaningful one for the Cascade Quartet. It is the group’s first performance following a very serious car accident just days ago on October 12. Earlier that week, the quartet had performed a showcase at the Arts Northwest performing arts conference in Tacoma, Washington. During the drive back to Great Falls they were in a head-on collision with a car driving towards them in their lane of traffic. All four quartet members were fortunate to be able to walk away from the accident but the other driver was badly injured and had to be transported to a nearby hospital in a helicopter. Considering the seriousness of the accident, the Cascade Quartet and Great Falls Symphony Association feel extremely fortunate that the outcome was not worse and are hoping for the best for the other driver. All are thankful that the Cascade Quartet members can continue its legacy of making music for the community.
