This Monday March 30 at 7:30 pm, North Carolina Symphony musicians will join Peace College faculty in the last performance of the season of the Manning Chamber Music series. An evening of music inspired by France, the program begins with the eccentric L'Histoire du Soldat by Igor Stravinsky. Peace College faculty member James Smith will narrate the suite, which is a charming reduction of the complete work.

Michael Cyzewski, clarinet, shared with me his thoughts on Jean Francaix's Quintet: "The Quintet is Francaix at his best. The music is typically witty, amusing, and, of course, technically challenging. What may sound easy to the audience belies a rhythmic complexity which is sometimes maddening for the musicians. Rehearsals have been peppered with laughter and amazement from Francaix's twists and turns. Although he didn't consider his music to be profound, we've found the third movement to be deeply moving."

The performance of Ravel's powerful Piano Trio is reason enough to come Monday night. With Principal Cellist Bonnie Thron, Assistant Concertmaster Rebekah Binford, and Peace College faculty John Noel, it is sure to be a show-stopper.

Here are all the details:
Monday, March 30 7:30 pm
Manning Chamber Music Series
Kenan Auditorium, Peace College
Igor Stravinsky: Suite from L'Histoire du Soldat
Michael Cyzewski, clarinet, Rebekah Binford, violin, John Noel, piano, James Smith, narrator
Maurice Ravel: Piano Trio
Rebekah Binford, violin, Bonnie Thron, cello, John Noel, piano
Jean Francaix: Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet
Michael Cyzewski, Clarinet, Rebekah Binford, Violin I, David Kilbride, Violin II, Sandra Schwarcz, Viola, Bonnie Thron, Cello