On Feb. 9 at 2pm, the Cantabile Music Ensemble will perform in the Gallery Concert Series at the Wellington County Museum and Archives, situated between Fergus and Elora.
In an unusual offering, the ensemble will add a guitar (John Alac) to the sonorous strings of viola (Ron Donylchuk) and cello (Mark Edel).
The program begins with Terzetto concertante, for viola, guitar & cello by Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840).
From the opening bars, when the instruments greet each other like friends across a room, the Terzetto concertante is a warm and amiable piece. This may surprise those who think of Paganini as “the devil’s fiddler,” a soloist who amazed audiences throughout Europe, playing breath-taking virtuoso violin.
Particularly moving is Paganini’s Adagio cantabile movement, which carries a tender lyrical charm.
This is followed by the solo guitar offering of performer John Alac, playing Andante et Rondo No. 2 by Dionisio Aguado y Garcia (1784 – 1849).
Like Fernando Sor, this composer was a seminal figure in the development of the guitar.
After a short intermission, Ron Dolychuk, Viola and Mark Edel, Cello, are joined by Mark McDowell, Piano, Paul Macnaughton, Violin and Ralph Blackman, Bass, for the well loved Piano Quintet in A major ‘The Trout’, by Franz Schubert (1797-1828). Added to the joy of music is access to all displays and exhibits of the museum, and complementary refreshments with the performers, who have so generously donated their time and talents. truly a mid-winter feast.
