NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, Jan. 17.
A Canadian-born oboist, two Seattle pianists and a violin player who’s been on “A Prairie Home Companion” are about to play together in two concerts with the Port Angeles Chamber Orchestra this weekend, and it’s a contest among the four soloists as to who’s more enthused about the program.
It’s an all-Bach evening to include the Chaconne, “one of my all-time favorite pieces,” said Jason Moody, the violinist who will play for the first time with the Chamber Orchestra at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Lopez Ave., Port Angeles, tonight.
“Every time I play it, there’s a new emotional depth I find,” added Moody, who performs with the Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony and Spokane Symphony.
Moody will join the Port Angeles Chamber Orchestra and fellow soloists Judith Cohen and Adam Stern on pianos and Anne Krabill on the oboe for this week’s two performances.
After tonight’s concert at Holy Trinity, the ensemble will come to the Sequim Worship Center, 640 N. Sequim Ave., on Saturday.
Both concerts will start at 7 p.m., with admission at $12. Listeners aged 16 and younger, however, are invited to come free when accompanied by an adult.
Tickets are available in advance and at the door.
Now pursuing a doctorate in musical arts at the University of Washington, Moody made his concert debut at age 16 with the Spokane Symphony.
‘Baptism by fire’
It was 1998 and “a baptism by fire,” he said, with conductor Gunther Schuller.
As a musician from Dover, Idaho, Moody has also appeared on the “Talent from Towns under 2,000” feature of “A Prairie Home Companion,” Garrison Keillor’s traveling public radio show.
“That was so much fun” both times, in Peoria, Ill., and in New York City.
Now Moody’s looking forward to two whole nights of Bach — a rare thing, he said.
“It’s engaging, exciting music,” to include the master’s Concerto for Oboe, Violin and Orchestra, with oboist Krabill.
This one’s like a maypole, with violin and oboe as the ribbons winding around it, said Krabill, a Canadian who lives in Port Townsend and who also performs with the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra and Port Townsend Community Orchestra.
Also promised: Bach’s Fantasia and Fugue, with Port Angeles Chamber Orchestra director and pianist Adam Stern and guest artist Judith Cohen playing a duet.
Then there’s the Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra, with soloist Cohen, who likens this piece to a dance.
“You get to be lively and rhythmic,” she said, “and then you get to have all the colors of the orchestra helping you out.”
Cohen, who has performed across Europe, Mexico and the United States, is delighted to be with the Port Angeles orchestra.
“I’m a big admirer of Adam [Stern],” she said.
“He’s a wonderful musician.”
Tickets for both concerts will be available at the door, but if patrons want to purchase in advance, they can visit Port Book and News, 104 E. First St., Port Angeles, or one of two Sequim locations: Sequim Village Glass at 761 Carlsborg Road or The Good Book/Joyful Noise Music Center at 108 W. Washington St.
For more about the chamber ensemble, phone the Port Angeles Symphony office at 360-457-5579 or visit www.PortAngelesSymphony.org.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
