Quartetto Gelato
Charlie Albright
Maestro Robert Bernhardt conducting
Accordion Virtuosi of Russia
Young People’s Chorus of New York City
Lee University will welcome Quartetto Gelato to Pangle Hall for the opening performance of Lee’s 26th annual Presidential Concert Series on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m.
Review for Quartetto Gelato:
With a performance repertoire that spans the globe including classical masterworks, operatic arias, the sizzling energy of tangos, and gypsy and folk songs, the quartet’s theatrical stage presence and relaxed humor have captivated audiences and critics worldwide for the past 25 years.
Quartetto Gelato has been described as “an amazing ensemble that achieves the nearly impossible: they play salon music with real style and classical music with real precision.” Early in its career, the group won the coveted title of NPR Performance Today’s Debut Artist of the Year and was later named Best Classical Ensemble at Canada’s 2010 INDIE awards.
The group’s film, “Quartetto Gelato: A Concert in Wine Country,” is seen regularly on PBS. The quartet’s eight CDs have sold over 150,000 units to date and have been featured on the Hollywood soundtrack “Only You.” Quartetto Gelato’s music can be heard on radio stations in over 20 countries.
In October, the Presidential Concert Series will continue with a performance by Charlie Albright, a pianist known for his unique improvisational ability. Returning to Lee for a second concert, Mr. Albright is hailed by Washington Post as “among the most gifted musicians of his generation” with a “dazzling natural keyboard affinity.”
The Lee Symphony will present “A Beatles Tribute” in November, conducted by Maestro Robert Bernhardt, artist-in-residence at Lee. The concert will honor the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles album “Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
Also returning to the university to perform for the concert series will be Accordion Virtuosi of Russia in February 2018. Throughout its history, this ensemble has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, with repertoire ranging from folk music to arrangements of rock songs.
The series will conclude in April with a concert by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, a multi-cultural youth chorus internationally renowned for its superb virtuosity and brilliant showmanship. Founded in 1988, the choir is directed by Francisco J. Núñez and assisted by Elizabeth McKinney Núñez, a Lee alumna.
Tickets for all performances will be available at the Lee University Box Office in the Dixon Center, or by contacting 614-8343, one week prior to each event, between 3-6 p.m.
For more information about the Presidential Concert Series, visit http://www.leeuniversity.edu/pcs/ or call the School of Music at 614-8240.