Named Best Concert Series of the East Bay 2021 by Diablo Magazine, the Gold Coast Chamber Players return to the stage on September 18, 2021 with Spheres of Influence, the first of a series of five concerts. Each performance is held at the Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Concerts begin at 7:30PM with a pre-concert talk at 7PM. Tickets include an option to watch the performance virtually from September 20-27, 2021. An outdoor reception follows the performance. GCCP follows county health guidelines and patrons must submit proof of vaccination and wear masks indoors.
Spheres of Influence kicks off the season with a colorful program of French, Chinese and Japanese music. This program continues last season’s theme of love and diversity by highlighting two Asian composers whose rich soundscapes are akin to French Impressionists. Ching-chu Hu’s inspiration for his sextet, Spheres of Influence, comes from the idea that our identity is in part formed by those around us. Professor Ching-chu Hu, streaming in from Denison University in Ohio, will be joined by local composer Shinji Eshima (composer of San Francisco Ballet’s ‘Raku’) for a pre-concert talk. Mr. Eshima’s Bariolage for cello and bass is a captivating work, exploring a sensual array of sounds.
The concert begins with the Ravel Sonata for cello and bass, dedicated to the memory of Claude Debussy. Debussy sought a new music of color, sensation, fleeting mood and relaxed form that would be distinctively French, as well as distinctively his own. Debussy established a new style known as "Impressionism" and his only string quartet will be performed following the Ravel Sonata.
San Francisco Symphony members Principal Second Violin Dan Carlson, Assistant Principal cellist Amos Yang and bassist Charles Chandler are joined by leading members of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, violinist Dian Zhang and violist Joy Fellows, along with violist Pamela Freund-Striplen.
Purchase single tickets and discounted subscriptions online at www.GCCPmusic.com or by calling (925) 283-3728. Visit gccpmusic.com to find regular updates about concert offerings, to make donations, and to purchase tickets.