String quartet ushers in Chamber Music series’ Springfield return

YELLOW SPRINGS – Chamber Music in Yellow Springs’ first show of 2018 will feature the Bennewitz String Quartet, an award-winning group from the Czech Republic, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at First Presbyterian Church.

From performances with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra to venues in London, Paris, and New York to several well-received recordings, Bennewitz String Quartet has a mission to expose audiences to Czech music.

The set will include Leoš Janáček’s “Quartet no. 2, ‘Intimate Letters;’” Bedřich Smetana’s “Quartet no. 1 in E minor, ‘From My Life;’” and Antonin Dvořák’s “Quartet in G major, op. 106.”

It’s a big program offering the very best of Czech string quartet repertoire featuring three most important composers for our music tradition, according to Celia Diamond, Chamber Music in Yellow Springs publicity chair.

Wright State University Professor Emeritus Chuck Larkowski will give a pre-concert lecture at 6:45 p.m.

What: The Bennewitz String Quartet

Where: First Presbyterian Church, 314 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs

When: Sunday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.

Admission: Adults $25; students $7

More info: 937-374-8800 or go to www.cmys.org

SANCTUARY SERIES HIGHLIGHTS WITTENBERG ENSEMBLES

Twice the vocal talent will take the stage at the next Sanctuary Series event.

The Wittenberg Singers and Chamber Singers will perform themed sets at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, at High Street United Methodist Church, 230 E. High St.

Admission is free, and an offering to support the series will be taken.

The all-female Wittenberg Singers includes 30 voices and their first set will be of nature themes including Randall Thompson’s “A Girl’s Garden” and “Honor the Earth” by Sarah Hopkins.

The second set will feature angel themes such as “Lift Thine Eyes” by Mendelssohn, “Until Even the Angels” by Craig Hella Johnson and “Bright Morning Stars” by Shawn Kirchner.

A set of folk songs and spirituals will round out this set.

Eight singers from the Wittenberg Choir form the Chamber Singers, in just their second semester together. The Chamber Singers will sing a short set of pieces including John Tavener’s “The Lamb,” based on a poem by William Blake.

For more information, go to the church's website.

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