Concerts to do good, concerts for love

   A stellar hootenanny will bring some of the finest names in the new folk movement together in “A Concert for Loved Ones in Haiti†at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. The artists, all from around the Berkshires, include Martin Sexton, Tift Merritt, Sarah Lee Guthrie (daughter of Arlo) and Johnny Irion, The Guthrie Family, Bobby Sweet, Meg Hutchinson, Vetiver, Kris Delmhorst, Jay & Molly, The Mammals and others.

   Irion, reached by phone, says the response is strong so far, and that all the musicians are donating their time to this worthy cause. All of the net proceeds are going to the United Nations Foundation’s Help us Help in Time: Central Emergency Response Fund. Call 413-997-4444 or go to www.TheColonialTheatre.org.

   The Avalon String Quartet got its start at the Norfolk Music Festival and has become one of the finest young groups in the country. Hear them tackle the Prokofiev No. 2 and Beethoven Op. 59 No. 2 on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. in the Close Encounters with Music series at the Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington, MA. Call 413-528-0100.

   If you’re looking for classical music to share with your Valentine, Newton Friends of Music is presenting the Trio de Paris, whose work has been highly praised by the LA Times and the Washington Post. The group will play the stunningly beautiful A Minor Piano Trio by Ravel, the sublime Schubert Trio in B-flat and the scrumptious E Major Trio, K. 452, by Mozart. Tickets are $20, children 5-14 free with adults. The performance begins at 3 p.m. Feb. 14, at the Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St., Newton CT. Call 203-426-6470.

   The Bard College Conservatory of Music has commissioned two new operas by young New Yorkers Missy Mazzoli and David T. Little, which, together with Ravel’s miniature masterpiece “L’Enfant et les Sortilèges†will be staged at the Fisher Center at Bard on Fri. Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. and Sun. Feb. 28 at 3 p.m.  Call 845-758-7900 or go to www.fishercenter.bard.edu.

   If your Valentine is a budding pianist, there is a delightful little set of piano pieces by the prolific and eclectic William Bolcom, just published by E. B. Marks. ($10 on amazon.com). The seven miniatures include three waltzes for cats, and a couple of stylistic homages, ranging from very easy to 3rd-year level. My favorite is “Pussycat Waltz No. 2,†which has little chromatic meows in the right hand and a simple, fun-to-play left hand part. Great for junior recitals and worth taking the time to learn.

   

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