In the news:
Originally published Monday, February 13, 2012 at 5:30 AM
Ritz Chamber Players to premiere new work at Seattle concert
The musicians, who'll debut a new work by African-American composer James Lee III at Seattle's Meany Hall this week, count a wonderful local musician — Demarre McGill, principal flutist for the Seattle Symphony — among their number.
Ritz Chamber Players
One of the self-declared missions of the Ritz Chamber Players — an all-black ensemble — is to showcase the work of African-American composers. They'll be doing just that with the world premiere of James Lee III's piano quintet, "Night Visions of Kippur."
The quintet — scored for piano, flute, clarinet, cello and violin — takes its musical inspiration from the Book of Daniel and, in the composer's own account, finds fantastical sonic possibilities in its biblical source. Lee's neoimpressionist "Into Sonic Horizons" for piano, flute and clarinet, posted on his MySpace page, may give some indication of what his "Night Visions" will be like.
The concert also has an unexpected local link. The Seattle Symphony's new principal flutist Demarre McGill — who's been lending some true magic to the 2011-12 season — will play both Lee's piece and Beethoven's Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola. This mark's McGill's first Seattle chamber-group appearance since he joined the Symphony. Works by Dvorák and Crusell round out the program, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Meany Hall, University of Washington; $20-$34 (206-543-4880 or www.uwworldseries.org).
For those on a budget, the Ritz Chamber Players will give a free recital, featuring works by Beethoven and Dvorák, noon Tuesday, at the Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle. Just walk in and enjoy.
Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times arts writer
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