Cape Ann Symphony’s 72nd season continues with its next concert, “The Known (and Unknown) Greats,” featuring Steinway artist Janice Weber.
The concert is Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at Manchester Essex Regional High School, 36 Lincoln St., in Manchester-by-the-Sea.
The program provides a diverse selection of accomplished musicians, including works by Beethoven, a French woman composer and an African-American composer.
The concert begins with a “sparkling” overture by the Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) of France, a virtuoso pianist and teacher of the Romantic period. Some critics compared her work to Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann. As her concert career blossomed, she received a prestigious appointment to the post of piano professor at the Paris Conservatory in 1842. Her works were largely forgotten until the late 20th century when an interest in women composers led to their rediscovery, according to her bio.
In continued celebration of women’s talents, the program features Weber during the performance of Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5.”
Conductor Yoichi Udagawa is eager to showcase Weber’s virtuosity.
“She has a long history of breathtaking performances with Cape Ann Symphony, and we can’t wait for our audience to hear her perform Beethoven’s ‘Emperor Concerto,’ “ he said.
Weber has performed near and far, from the White House to China. Her recordings include Rachmaninoff’s complete transcriptions among others. She was a member of the piano faculty at Boston Conservatory for 27 years, and has taught at MIT and New England Conservatory. In addition to music, she has been a life-long writer and has published several novels in which music is woven into the narrative.
The final piece is “Woodnotes” by William Grant Still (1895-1978), who composed nearly 200 works, including five symphonies, four ballets, nine operas, more than 30 choral works, among other works. He studied music at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and in 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve in World War I. After the war, he settled in Harlem. His first major orchestral composition, “Symphony No. 1 Afro-American,” was performed in 1931, according to his bio.
For tickets and information, call 978-281-0543 or visit: www.capeannsymphony.org.
Last call for ‘Above the Fold’
Called a “love letter to Cape Ann,” the Cape Ann Museum special exhibition, “Above the Fold: The Photographers of the Gloucester Daily Times, 1973-2005,” will close Sunday, March 17. The final Thursday gallery tour takes place March 14 from 2 to 3 p.m.
The final special related program is “Mug Up with the Photographers of the Gloucester Daily Times” on Saturday, March 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the museum’s downtown campus, at 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester. The event is free with museum admission.
This exhibit features a selection of works by photographers shooting for the Gloucester Daily Times for more than three decades. The photos in the exhibit came from a donation of more than a million images from that particular time period.
“Gloucester is a visual paradise,” said photographer James “Jim” Mahoney, who was hired at the Times in 1981 at the age of 23. After a two-year stint, he spent the next 36 years as a Boston Herald staff photographer.
For details, visit capeannmuseum.org.
Music and auction at benefit
The Educational Foundation for Rockport holds it second annual benefit event featuring music by Headlands, hors d’oeuvres, dancing and a silent auction that includes Bruins tickets, a season kayak pass among dozens of other items. The auction is online prior and during the event. The event, open to all, takes place Thursday, March 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. on the third floor of the Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main St., Rockport. To view the auction items, go to: https://app.galabid.com/efr2024/items. For details and tickets, visit rockportedfoundation.org. Tickets also available at the door.
Experimental Art Zoom talk
The New England Experimental Art Group will host an evening with Robin Colodzin on Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. The free public talk will be through Zoom.
Colodzin’s work is inspired by the ocean, poetry, philosophy and feminism, according to her bio. She is an artist, software engineer, swimmer and avid reader. Her latest solo show, “Embodied,” was a month-long exhibit at The Copley Society for Art in Boston last fall. She recently published a monograph of the same title, including artwork and writing.
The description of her talk states: My studio of safe uncertainty: An exploration of the gap between pure expression and communication in art-making. I find the practices that get me most fully embodied and expressive sometimes conflict with those that would allow me to shape a painting into something that would say something to others. This talk will explore those tensions.
The art group is a creative forum with a mission to foster self-expression by bringing artists together to explore ideas that cultivate creative freedom. For a Zoom invite to the event, contact Nella Lush by email at: experimentalgroupraa@gmail.com.
Distinguished speaker series
Manchester-by-the-Sea’s Distinguished Speakers Series continues with David McCullough III, co-founder and CEO of the American Exchange Project, at the event on March 21, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library.
The grandson of Pulitzer-Prize winning historian and author David McCullough, the guest speaker will talk about how the American Exchange Project is connecting youth across the country. The program provides students a free one-week trip to a distinct community in an effort to learn more about other places to address “the polarization and isolation that can exist between communities.”
The program, which is funded by donors, allows the students to travel at no cost, and host families receive a stipend. The Hearthland Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, is a large donor to the program.
One of the project’s state managers is Matt Anderson, who teaches at Gloucester High School.
The speaker series is a partnership between Manchester-by-the-Sea’s Cultural Council and its public library. To register, go to the library website at: www.manchesterpl.org.
Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-675-2706 or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com at least two weeks in advance.