César Franck’s monumental Piano Quintet is dramatic, impassioned, and harmonically rich. Concluding its 2025 summer season, Midsummer’s Music presents one of the five greatest piano quintets ever written: César Franck’s monumental Piano Quintet. Dramatic, impassioned, and harmonically rich, Franck’s quintet remains a cornerstone of the genre. The piece premiered with… [Read More]

This is a continuation of my previous column about a few unusual experiences I had playing bassoon in the orchestra. At the end of the last episode, the great German opera conductor, Ferdinand Leitner, was being carried out of the pit after fainting and falling off the podium. Opera conducting… [Read More]

Following my last column, I received a number of enthusiastic responses for which I am grateful. Our June/July season is taking a pause until we return in late August with two more programs leading up to Labor Day. Since my comments on the details of rehearsing chamber music seemed to… [Read More]

Octets Behind the Scenes Unless you are an orchestral musician, experiencing our “Octet Excitement” program is about as close as you will get to experiencing what it is like to play in an orchestra. I use the word “experiencing” intentionally because I mean the whole nine yards. Sitting as close… [Read More]

Join us as the Griffon String Quartet helps set the tone for an event where wind, water, and music sail together. As the Tall Ships glide into Sturgeon Bay, WI, bringing echoes of maritime history and the spirit of exploration, the Griffon String Quartet – named for the legendary 17th-century… [Read More]