Two Evenings Of Mozart In Manito Park

Thu., July 18, 1996

Travis Rivers Correspondent

Connoisseur Concerts has turned its back on Bach for the summer, changed its allegiance to Mozart and gone outdoors.

Connoisseur Concerts is best-known for its annual wintertime series, the Northwest Bach Festival. But this summer, the organization will present two evenings of Mozart in Manito Park on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The concerts will feature the Connoisseur Concerts’ Wind Octet, made up of Spokane Symphony musicians. The octet will be joined by singers from the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus directed by Tamara Schupman. The Children’s Chorus just returned from a European tour that included performances in Austria and Hungary.

This year’s Manito Park performances are being given on the lawn to the east of Duncan Gardens. “We had to make the change from Duncan Gardens itself because renovation in the gardens expanded the planting areas and reduced considerably the lawn area,” says Gertrude Harvey, Connoisseur Concerts’ executive director.

The organization began the “Mozart on a Summer’s Eve” as a one-performance event in 1990. This year’s expanded Mozartian activities were announced by Connoisseur Concerts along with the news that Verne Windham has been appointed artistic director of its summer series, a role he has unofficially filled in the past.

Windham is a well-known figure in Spokane musical circles. He is former principal horn of the Spokane Symphony, a founding member of the Spokane Falls Brass Band, and is classical music director of public radio station KPBX. Windham is a longtime member of the Connoisseur Concerts board of trustees.

“Verne has programmed and led these summer events,” Harvey says, “so this is just an official acknowledgment of his role with Connoisseur Concerts.”

Gunther Schuller remains artistic director of the Northwest Bach Festival.

The program for the two performances at Manito include Mozart’s Wind Serenade in E-flat and excerpts from other chamber music, including the Horn Quintet, the Oboe Quartet and the Clarinet Quintet. Members of the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus will sing works by Mozart and Schubert.

“In addition to the music, those in the audience who pay for table seating will be served a gourmet dessert and coffee from Luna restaurant,” Harvey says. “We strongly encourage the early purchase of tickets for the table seating because of the limited space. There is also room available, though, for those who want to bring blankets or lawn chairs.”

The area will be open to ticketholders at 5:30 for those who want to picnic before the music begins at 7. In case of rain, the performances will be held in the Great Hall of the Jewett House at St. John’s Cathedral, 12th and Grand.

An abbreviated version “Mozart on a Summer’s Eve” programmed primarily for children will be performed Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. on the grounds of the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute. The concert is free.

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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT Connoisseur Concerts will present “Mozart on a Summer’s Eve” at Manito Park, on the lawn east of Duncan Gardens, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. The area is open for picnicking at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $17.50 for table seating and $5 for the blanket and lawn-chair seating area, available from all G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call Connoisseur Concerts at 326-4942.

This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT Connoisseur Concerts will present “Mozart on a Summer’s Eve” at Manito Park, on the lawn east of Duncan Gardens, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. The area is open for picnicking at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $17.50 for table seating and $5 for the blanket and lawn-chair seating area, available from all G&B; Select-a-Seat outlets or call Connoisseur Concerts at 326-4942.