SHARE

Music Man: Danbury Celebrates Legacy Of Charles Ives With Concert Series

DANBURY, Conn. – The Danbury Music Centre will honor the legacy of Danbury’s hometown composers as it launches the "Charles Ives Concert Series" next week. 

Paul Frucht gears up for the Ives Concert Series in Danbury.

Paul Frucht gears up for the Ives Concert Series in Danbury.

Photo Credit: William Frucht

Throughout the week starting Sunday, Aug. 6, the centre will host performances of the music of Ives and other contemporary American composers in the greater Danbury area. The music will transcend the traditional boundaries of classical music to incorporate pop music and other contemporary styles. 

The artists featured on the Ives Concert Series are some of America’s most award-winning young performers, all of whom are graduates of America’s most prestigious conservatories, including the Juilliard School, Yale University, the Curtis Institute, and Rice University.

Led by artistic director and Danbury native, Paul Frucht, the series will feature four free concerts. 

On Sunday a 3 p.m.,the series kicks off with a house party at a private home in Ridgefield. 

Ives Series Artist-faculty will perform music that incorporates elements of folk culture from various countries around the world. The concert is open to the public, but interested attendees must RSVP online to receive details. 

On Aug. 8 at 7 p.m., the series brings an award-winning duo, cellist Julian Schwarz and Marika Bournaki, to Marian Anderson Recital Hall at the Danbury Music Centre. The concert, entitled “Enduring Traditions,” will be a journey through American concert music through the ages, ranging from Arthur Foote, a contemporary of Ives to today’s living composers, including 2017 Composer-in-Residence, Justin Dello Joio.

On Aug. 10 at 7 p.m., the series moves to the CityCenter Danbury’s Downtown Green for a concert that opens with a collaboration between the Ives Series-Artist Faculty and participants in the Danbury Music Centre’s educational Chamber Music Intensive. Ives Series Guest Artists Charles Yang and Peter Dugan close out the program.

The series closes Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Marian Anderson Recital Hall with a concert entitled, “The Ives Legacy: Living American Composers.” The finale of the series features music by composer-in-residence, Justin Dello Joio, Max Grafe, David Ludwig, two recent Pullitzer Prize winners — Kevin Puts and Caroline Shaw — as well as the winner of the world-wide call for scores and Paul Frucht, who will premiere a new percussion concerto with Guest Artist SimonBoyar.

The Danbury Music Centre has also launched a crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo to raise funds for the series. Click here for information or to make a donation. 

to follow Daily Voice Newtown and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE