Come celebrate Winterlude 2025 with the North Country Chamber Players as they debut a new concert space with a program that illuminates the beauty and versatility of woodwinds and brass instruments over three centuries. Beethoven’s magnificent Quintet for piano and winds was one of his own signature pieces as a performer and, during the past 47 seasons, it has become one of the Chamber Players’ important signature pieces, as well. Inspired by Mozart’s work, composed only ten years earlier, for the same combination, the young, pre-symphonic Beethoven infused this piece with his own singular personality, featuring some of the thrilling, rhapsodic and often humorous qualities that marked many of his subsequent works. The French Romantic composer, Paul Taffanel, won an important composition competition with his Woodwind Quintet in 1876, a work that was praised for its elegant melodies, rhythmic drive, brilliant virtuosity and compelling timbral combinations. Harvard-trained Randall Thompson’s charming, neoclassical Suite for oboe, clarinet and viola, will round out this uplifting afternoon.

‘WINTER WINDS’
---PROGRAM---
Randall Thompson Suite for oboe, clarinet and viola (1940)
(1899-1984)

Paul Taffanel Woodwind Quintet in G Minor (1876)
(1844-1908)

---intermission---

Ludwig van Beethoven Quintet for piano and winds in Eb Major, Op. 16 (1796)
(1770-1827)

---ARTISTS---
Susan Nidel, flute
Kemp Jernigan, oboe
Todd Palmer, clarinet
Alexander Davis, bassoon
Bernhard Scully, horn
Bernard Rose, piano
Ah Ling Neu, viola