Oakwood Chamber Players Fall Concert: Musical Mystique

The Oakwood Chamber Players usher in a hint of mystery and macabre with performances at Oakwood Villages Prairie Ridge (5565 Tancho Drive) on Friday, October 24, and University Woods (6205 Mineral Point Road) on Saturday, October 25, both at 7 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. matinee at Arts + Literature Laboratory on Sunday, October 26 (111 South Livingston Street).

The ensemble’s swath of strings, winds, and piano will present an array of impish and dramatic musical delights, linked together by the spirited and mischievous “Polka” by Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998). Piano Quartet in A minor by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), a profound early work left unfinished, included musical sketches that Schnittke attempted to complete and quoted in his own later work. Fellow Russian Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), one of Schnittke’s primary musical influences, wrote his powerfully moving String Quartet No. 3 amidst the climate of Stalinist cultural oppression.

Two living composers add further dimension to the lineup of 20th century heavy hitters, Korine Fujiwara (“Artfully layered and knitted together…,” The Wall Street Journal) and GRAMMY nominee Miguel del Aguila (“Vivacious rhythmic…inspired musicianship…,” Latino Magazine, Washington DC). Del Aguila’s “Tango Trio” taps into the Argentine-Uruguayan tango and Brazilian samba, while Fujiwara’s “Out of the Depths” draws inspiration from sacred music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Oakwood Chamber Players serve as the professional resident ensemble for the Oakwood Village senior living community. Artistic Directors Valree Casey (oboe/English horn), Amanda Szczys (bassoon), Marie Pauls (viola), Maggie Townsend (cello), and new associate member Stacy Regehr (piano) will be joined by guest violinists Leanne Kelso and Holly Wagner.

Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 seniors, and $5 for students. Run time, 75 minutes, no intermission. For more information and advance ticket sales, visit oakwoodchamberplayers.com.