It's been a great summer of recognition for the College. The New York Times called us a gem. We've been on several other “top” lists.
And closer to home, Metroland magazine's “Best of 2006” edition cited Union as Best Classical Music Venue (Memorial Chapel) and Best Classical Music Series (the popular Concert Series).
“Memorial Chapel adds a degree of intimacy, and its underrated acoustics are similarly superb. From solo instrumentalist to chamber orchestra, every note is crisp and clear,” the paper wrote.
As for the series itself, “Year after year, Dan Berkenblit puts together a series of artists and ensembles ranging from the renowned to the unknown – and you can bet that those unknown ensembles will hit the big time soon. Subscribe to the series. They're all winners.”
This year's series includes 15 gala concerts and kicks off Oct. 4 with Leon Fleisher, Piano, followed by the Florestan Piano Trio on Oct. 22.
Other programs are: Parker String Quartet (Nov. 3); Pei-Yao Wang, Piano and Friends Nov. 19 (3 p.m.); Boston Camerata (Dec. 3); David Finckel, Cello and Wu Han, Piano (Jan. 7); Christianne Stotijn, Mezzo Soprano and Joseph Breinl, Piano (Jan 21); Emerson String Quartet, Part I (All-Beethoven, Feb. 4); Ysaye String Quartet (March 3);
Marc-Andre Hamelin, Piano (March 18); Musicians from Marlboro (March 25); Julia Fisher, Violin and Milana Chernyavska, Piano (April 5); Ingrid Fliter, Piano (April 18); and ECCO (String Chamber Orchestra, April 28.
The concert series wraps up with the Emerson String Quartet, Part II (May 10).