Del Valle Fine Arts Offers a Broad Selection of Chamber Music Concerts, Recitals

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

When it comes to arts organizations that serve the Tri-Valley, few can match Del Valle Fine Arts' record of 28 years of presenting concerts in Livermore. Their 2005-2006-2007 season has just started and, once again, they will be bringing a remarkable lineup of chamber music performers to the area. Here's the current program:

Turtle Island String Quartet, October 29 - Recently featured on NPR's Morning Edition, the Turtle Island String Quartet was founded in 1985 and has continually redefined the limits of chamber music for strings. Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has stated that the quartet is "a unique voice that truly breaks new ground - authentic and passionate - a reflection of some of the most creative music-making today." They have played a remarkable variety of music, ranging from folk, bluegrass, swing, be-bop, funk, rhythm and blues, rock, and hip-hop as well as the music of Latin America and India. With over a dozen albums under their belt, they continue to break new creative ground on a regular basis. See www.TISQ.com for additional information.

The Corigliano Quartet, February 11 - Founded in 1996, the Corigliano Quartet takes their name from Pulitzer, Grammy, and Oscar-winning composer John Corigliano - with his blessing. "They are truly one of the great quartets of the new generation," he says. "Their fiery intensity, musical sensitivity, and bold programming makes for an absolutely stunning concert experience." The New York Times agreed, calling them "musicians who seem to say, 'Listen to this!'" and praising their "excellent, smooth sense of ensemble but with each part vigorously alive." They will be performing Beethoven's String Quartet Opus 18 No. 5 in A Major, Adam Silverman's Corrie Q's Jigs and Reels (String Quartet No. 3), Corigliano's Snapshot, and Schumann's String Quartet Opus 41, No. 1. Their home page is at coriglianoquartet.com.

Inman Piano Trio, March 11 - The trio, which takes its name from Atlanta's Inman Park neighborhood, features violinist Beth Newdome, cellist David Bjella, and pianist Brent Runnels. Their shared musical vision looks to both the past and the present as they perform mainstays of the piano trio repertoire alongside newer, rarely performed works. They have performed throughout the South and Midwest, leaving a trail of rave reviews in their wake. The Virginia Gazette, for example, called their music "immediately accessible and enjoyable" and concluded that they were "an ensemble on the rise." Their web site is at concertartists.com/InmanPianoTrio.html.

Sotto Voce Tuba Quartet, April 8 - Del Valle's 2005-2006-2007 season concludes with this brass chamber ensemble. While the idea of a tuba quartet might strike some as a novelty, Sotto Voce is anything but. "Sotto Voce is performing all over the place as a professional ensemble, garnering raves as serious performers," writes John Sunier in Audiophile Audition. "It doesn't take long to realize that the relegating of the tuba to the basement of the pitch spectrum is unfair - it has quite a wide range." With a repertoire that ranges from Early Music to Baroque to Dixieland to Frank Zappa, Sotto Voce shows a remarkable range of talents. More information may be found at tubaquartet.com.

Del Valle Fine Arts concerts are held at 8:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Livermore at Fourth and South L streets. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at Towne Center Books in Pleasanton and The Book Oasis in Livermore. For additional information, access their home page at delvallefinearts.org.

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