UPPER LAKE – The Tallman Hotel will present its second season of “Concerts with Conversation” beginning Jan. 17 and extending through May 15 with a concert each month.
Ten percent of all proceeds from the concerts will benefit the Soper-Reese Community Theater Fund which is in the process of converting the old single-screen movie theater in Lakeport into a state-of-the-art performing arts center.
As with the first, highly successful Tallman concert season in 2007, the series will bring some of Northern California’s finest musical talent to this delightful and intimate Lake County venue.
Guests will enjoy a champagne reception with the musicians in the parlor of the hotel followed by a three course dinner featuring Lake County wines. This will be followed by an informal concert and dialogue with the musicians in the charming Riffe’s Meeting House next door to the Hotel.
The 2008 season kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 17 with an evening of early baroque music featuring the husband and wife team of Phebe Craig on harpsichord and violinist Michael Sand.
Phebe has performed and recorded with many early music ensembles and is the director of the San Francisco Early Music Society’s Baroque Workshop. Michael was one of the original directors of Philharmonia, the first period instrument orchestra on the West Coast, and he has appeared as guest director with numerous chamber orchestras in this country and abroad. Both Phebe and Michael are on the music faculty at UC Davis.
The remainder of the 2008 season features an eclectic group of accomplished musicians:
Feb. 21 – Ukiah resident John Mattern is one of the most artistic and innovative musicians in Northern California. With John on saxophone, the John Mattern Jazz Quartet has recently released a popular CD called Alfonsano. He is now launching the next step in his performing career as a singer songwriter, playing piano and guitar while performing original music influenced by his roots in jazz, folk, bluegrass and progressive contemporary styles.
March 20 – Joined by Chris Alexander on piano, violinist David Reffkin will present a lighthearted and upbeat evening of turn-of-the-last-century ragtime music. A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, David is the dean of the San Francisco ragtime scene. He appears on numerous recordings either as soloist or ensemble member and was a founder and co-director of the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival. Since 1981, David has been the host of “The Ragtime Machine,” a weekly radio program on KUSF-FM in San Francisco.
April 17 – Pianist Elena Casanova has been a featured soloist with the Ukiah Symphony Orchestra and has performed widely throughout Northern California. An exciting and expressive performer, Elena will present a variety of classical and contemporary pieces plus some of the passionate music from her native Cuba. She has recently released a haunting CD of classical and modern Cuban music called Recordando.
May 15 – Ever popular in Lake County and beyond, the Lakeside Chamber Players will again conclude the Tallman Concert Series. The incomparable cellist and composer Clovice Lewis will be joined by flutist Catharine Hall and pianist Carolyn Hawley. The group will perform a variety of classical chamber pieces plus original compositions that Clovice calls “Jazzical,” a name that well sums up the blend of styles that makes his music so unique.
Tickets to any or all of these events can be obtained by calling the Tallman Hotel reception desk at (707) 275-2244.
The cost for individual concerts with dinner is $80, or $350 for the entire series. Tickets for the concerts only can be obtained for $35. The Hotel also has a special package of hotel room plus two concert and dinner tickets for $275.
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