We open the season in classic fashion with this elegant ensemble of strings, wind and piano known for creatively programmed concerts and widely diverse repertoire, from Baroque through the modern era. The 13 Chamber Soloists perform frequently at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and maintain an active touring schedule at major universities from Boston to Berkeley. The group’s founder, oboist Melvin Kaplan, is a former Juilliard teacher who directs the renowned Vermont Mozart Festival.
Three for the price of one! For two decades the Moscow-born Lilya Zilberstein has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most fabulously gifted artists, winning prestigious international competitions, appearing as featured soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony, and Montreal Symphony, among others, and making critically acclaimed recordings for EMI and Deutsche Grammophon. A longtime favorite of Civic Music and Peninsula Music Festival audiences, she’ll return to perform music by Rachmaninov, Schubert, Mozart, and Brahms.
Making this an extra-special evening for Civic Music subscribers, she’ll be accompanied by a pair of rising young talents – her sons Daniel, 20, and Anton, 15, making their American concert debut! Already performing professionally as the Duo Gerzenberg, they have been featured in concert with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, and Daniel won first prize in the Steinway Competition in Hamburg. Lilya Zilberstein is represented by Schmidt Artists International, Inc.
* This concert opens a two-night dual engagement in partnership with the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. Civic Music members are eligible for a reduced-rate ticket of $20 for Saturday night’s Symphony concert, also at Holter Auditorium, with Ms. Zilberstein as featured soloist on Dimitri Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings. The program also includes music of Bach, Mozart and Copland. Designate this additional purchase, if desired, on your membership order form.
A holiday treat! Returning to Holter Auditorium with their crowd-pleasing Christmas program is one of America’s favorite brass ensembles. Burning River Brass serves up a touch of tradition, a dash of jazz and a healthy measure of festive cheer with time-honored carols and their very own big band “Nutcracker.” Phrases such as “power and virtuosity” and “harmonious blend” have been used to describe the sparkling sound of these Cleveland-based performers, but “entertaining” is really the one best descriptor.
Jitro, meaning “daybreak” in Czech, is one of the world’s premiere youth choirs. Based in Hradec Kralove, a town in the Czech Republic, Jitro is an organization of 500 girls in seven preparatory ensembles, of which only the most talented 25 to 50 qualify to tour. For 35 years they have been admired the world over for their tone, intonation, and rich blend of sound and energetic vitality. A favorite in Europe, they broke through with United States audiences with a much-heralded appearance at the national conference of the American Choral Directors Association.
the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on their home stage
This is a free bonus concert for new members who join for the 2012-13 concert series!
It’s tradition! For the fifth consecutive season, Brown County Civic Music closes its annual concert series with the majestic power and superb musicianship of one of America’s preeminent orchestras. Back yet again by popular demand, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will present a typically appealing program and also offer Green Bay audiences a glimpse of their invitational performance at the Spring for Music festival at Carnegie Hall in May 2012. From delicate solo passages to bold sweeping crescendos, the full-time professional musicians of the MSO demonstrate anew there’s nothing quite like an evening of live classical music.
Keith Brion and his New Sousa BandJohn Philip Sousa (1854-1932)
Red, white and blue! Civic Music opens its 86th anniversary season with an evening of classic All-American music. Keith Brion, former director of bands at Yale University, has assembled a tight, polished ensemble of top players who gather from around the country to tour and pay homage to John Philip Sousa. Their concerts celebrate an era when this beloved composer would bring his rousing marches and stirring melodies directly to the people of America’s cities and small towns.
Brilliant! That’s the best way to describe the music of this Amsterdam-based quintet, which records and tours worldwide. Calefax wins fans with its unusual instrumentation — saxophone, bass clarinet, clarinet, bassoon and oboe— and stunning phrasing and masterful interpretation. From early music to classical and jazz to world premières, in the hands of Calefax, it’s fresh and new. The New York Times praises their “unadulterated virtuosity,” while The Times of London calls them “five extremely gifted Dutch gents who almost make the reed quintet seem the best musical format on the planet.”
Cancellation notice: This concert has been cancelled due to the illness of the leader. The Brown County Civic Music Association has scheduled a replacement concert. Empire Brass tickets dated March 8, 2013 will admit you to the Brass-E5 concert on Saturday, May 18.
A Civic Music favorite! America’s No. 1 ambassadors of classical and crossover brass return for a fifth time to the stage of Holter Auditorium. Led by engaging, world-class trumpeter Rolf Smedvig, this internationally known ensemble brings impeccable virtuosity and entertaining flair to music from Bach and Handel to jazz and Broadway show-stoppers. Raves The Boston Globe, “They simply have no competition…any Empire Brass performance live or on a recording sends a thrill of pleasure through your nervous system.”
Evening with a legend! Menahem Pressler, founder of the renowned Beaux Arts Trio, ranks with the world’s great pianists. He fled Nazi Germany in 1939 and launched his career post-war with first prize at the Debussy International Piano Competition in San Francisco, followed by his American debut with Eugene Ormandy’s Philadelphia Orchestra. His recording and touring, with Beaux Arts and as a featured soloist, earned worldwide acclaim; in 2011 the International Classical Music Awards recognized him with lifetime achievement honors. He continues to earn strong reviews for the emotion and finesse of his playing. Pressler will be joined by the Four Winds ensemble (who you may recognize from last season’s New York Chamber Soloists concert).
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra – Edo de Waart Music Director
It’s tradition! For the sixth consecutive season, Brown County Civic Music closes its annual concert series with the majestic power and superb musicianship of one of America’s preeminent orchestras. Back yet again by popular demand, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will present an appealing program. From delicate solo passages to bold sweeping crescendos, the full-time professional musicians of the MSO demonstrate anew there’s nothing quite like an evening of live classical music.
* This concert opens a two-night dual engagement in partnership with the 
