The 2024 Halcyon Music Festival returns for its tenth-anniversary season June 13-22, with six unique chamber music programs. Halcyon Music Festival brings 21 world-class musicians to live, rehearse, and perform together over the span of two weeks. Held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, NH, all concerts start at 7 PM. Individual tickets and multi-concert packages are now on sale at www.halcyonmusicfestival.org/concerts.
“I’ve curated a special selection of repertoire for our tenth anniversary. There’s something for everyone, whether you prefer Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons or Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires,” said Heng-Jin Park, the pianist of Boston Trio and Halcyon’s artistic director. “Of particular note is the first-ever flutist in our ranks, Lorna McGhee, who just became Principal Flute of the Boston Symphony. Our audience will enjoy her masterful renditions of chamber works we wouldn’t otherwise be able to program.”
The 2024 Halcyon Music Festival schedule includes:
Opening Night, Thursday, June 13: SEASONS features Vivaldi’s Spring from The Four Seasons, Op. 8, performed by Ben Sayevich, violin, and the Halcyon Music Festival string ensemble. Sibelius’ Duo in C Major, performed by Monica Pegis, violin, and Jordan Bak, viola. Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, arranged for piano trio, performed by Emma Frucht, violin; Peter Stumpf, cello; and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano. Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 64, performed by Grace Park, violin; David Hardy, cello; and Heng-Jin Park, piano.
Friday, June 14: SOUVENIRS features Prokofiev’s Sonata for Two Violins in C Major, Op. 56, performed by Monica Pegis and Julia Glenn, violins. Turina’s Piano Quartet in A minor, Op. 67, performed by Ben Sayevich, violin; Marcus Thompson, viola; David Hardy, cello; and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano. Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70, performed by Grace Park, Emma Frucht, violins; Burchard Tang, Jordan Bak, violas; and Peter Stumpf, Alexei Gonzales, cellos.
Saturday, June 15: EPISODES FROM LIFE features Boccherini’s String Quintet in E Major, Op. 11, No. 5, performed by Ben Sayevich, Monica Pegis, violins; Marcus Thompson, viola; and Alexei Gonzales, David Hardy, cellos. Bartók’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, performed by Grace Park, Julia Glenn, violins; Burchard Tang, viola; and Peter Stumpf, cello. Dvořák’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 23, performed by Emma Frucht, violin; Jordan Bak, viola; Alexei Gonzales, cello; and Heng-Jin Park, piano.
Thursday, June 20: SOLSTICE features Vivaldi’s Summer from The Four Seasons, Op. 8, performed by Irina Muresanu, violin, and the Halcyon Music Festival string ensemble. Mozart’s String Duo No. 1 in G Major, K. 423, performed by Ben Sayevich, violin, and Tim Deighton, viola. Crumb’s Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale), performed by Lorna McGhee, flute; David Hardy, cello; and Heng-Jin Park, piano. Schumann’s String Quartet No. 3, Op. 41, No. 3, performed by Julia Glenn, Gabriela Diaz, violins; Danny Kim, viola; and Jonah Ellsworth, cello.
Friday, June 21: DUSK INTO DAWN features Martinů’s Trio for Flute, Cello, and Piano, performed by Lorna McGhee, flute; Jonah Ellsworth, cello; and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano. Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major, performed by Ben Sayevich, Gabriela Diaz, violins; Danny Kim, viola; and Sergey Antonov, cello. Brahms’ String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 111, performed by Irina Muresanu, Julia Glenn, violins; Tim Deighton, David Harding, violas; and David Hardy, cello.
Closing Night, Saturday, June 22: CHRYSANTHEMUMS features Puccini’s Crisantemi, performed by Gabriela Diaz, Monica Pegis, violins; Tim Deighton, viola; and David Hardy, cello. Bloch’s Concertino for Flute, Viola, and Piano, performed by Lorna McGhee, flute; Danny Kim, viola; and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano. Mozart’s String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465, ‘Dissonance,’ performed by Irina Muresanu, Ben Sayevich, violins; Tim Deighton, viola; and Jonah Ellsworth, cello. Dvořák’s Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 81, performed by Julia Glenn, Monica Pegis, violins; David Harding, viola; Sergey Antonov, cello; and Heng-Jin Park, piano.
Individual tickets are $35 for general admission and $10 for students (the latter only available at the door). Multi-concert ticket packages can be bought at discounted rates: six concerts for $170, five for $150, four for $120, and three for $85. Subscribers who select at least one of the Thursday performances as part of either the three or four-concert package will receive an additional $10 discount.
Each concert will also be livestreamed, and online viewing admission is $25.
Tickets are now available at www.halcyonmusicfestival.org/concerts.
St. John’s Episcopal Church is located at 101 Chapel Street, Portsmouth, NH.
In addition to the evening performances, Halcyon Music Festival will present a free children’s concert at the Portsmouth Public Library on Wednesday, June 12, at 3:30 PM. The hour-long event will feature excerpts from the festival repertoire and an opportunity to ask the musicians questions.
About Halcyon Music Festival
The mission of Halcyon Music Festival is to create a community where chamber music will be explored and presented at the highest artistic level; and to make chamber music accessible to everyone, in particular those who might not otherwise experience it in a concert hall. Each year, Halcyon Music Festival presents two weeks of passionate, compelling performances, with focus on providing opportunities for enrichment to people of all ages and musical backgrounds. Halcyon Music Festival is committed to supporting the arts in the greater Portsmouth, New Hampshire area and beyond. The organization seeks to enhance the growth of chamber music on a local and national level by bringing world-class musicians and talented young professionals to live, work, and perform together. For more information, please visit www.halcyonmusicfestival.org.