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Chamber Music at the Barn on a steady course

The summertime music festival, which begins June 11, is expected to maintain its strong support.

BY CHRIS SHULL

Wichita Eagle correspondent

As they begin their 13th season, the people behind Chamber Music at the Barn think their summertime festival of (mostly) classical chamber music is stronger than ever.

Enthusiastic patrons have kept finances in the black. Last year's attendance was strong. And student and adult music camps are bringing new supporters into the fold.

Last month, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra honored the Barn's artistic director (and orchestra violist) Catherine Consiglio with its Daniel J. Sevart Award for Community Service for her contributions to Wichita's musical community.

"People are being real supportive," Consiglio said.

The Barn's new season of concerts and activities follows the successful pattern of past summers. Performances will be held Wednesdays through Fridays. Patrons can sit inside the chalet-like Barn at Prairie Pines and see the stage, or outside at tables in the shaded gardens, listening through speakers and watching on a big-screen TV.

There will be five concerts, each repeated three times. The lineup includes four classical music concerts and an alternative-music show -- this year featuring Celtic music by the Cathie Ryan Irish Band. Classical concerts will feature Wichita-area players and guest musicians with Kansas ties.

The season opens June 11-13 with concertos by Bach and Vivaldi, each featuring two soloists backed by a small chamber orchestra. The program June 25-27 features the mystical and mesmerizing "Quartet for the End of Time" by Olivier Messiaen, paired with a sunny quartet by W.A. Mozart.

Concerts July 2-4 feature the Cathie Ryan Irish Band. Ryan was the singer and bodhran player with the Irish girl-group Cherish the Ladies. (A bodhran is a handheld drum.)

Up next on July 9-11 is the Boston Brass, a quintet. The group's French horn player, J.D. Shaw, studied at Wichita State.

"Their playing is going to wow everybody (with) their precision and the beauty of their sound and the elegance of their ensemble," Consiglio said. "It is also very entertaining. It is not just a dry, academic performance."

The season concludes July 23-25 with string quartets by Charles Ives and Antonin Dvorak, music inspired by America. Ives is famous for his joyfully clashing dissonances.

"The way I used to think about Ives was just, 'Oh, ick,' " Consiglio said. But his quartet "From the Salvation Army" is "very listenable and really fun, with these humorous twists."

The concert -- and the Barn's 13th season -- will end with Dvorak's "American" string quartet, written in Spillville, Iowa, the composer's small-town retreat during his sojourn in America from 1892 to 1895.

"This is probably the best-loved quartet of all the repertoire," Consiglio said. "Dvorak was in love with America, and that really comes through in this piece."

Now you know

CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE BARN

• The festival of classical chamber music opens in June. Here is the season schedule and ticket information.

June 11-13 -- Go for Baroque!

Double Concerto for Violin and Oboe, Bach

Concerto for Two Violins, Bach

Concerto for Two Cellos, Vivaldi

John Harrison, Amy Glidden, violin; Andrea Banke, oboe; Jakub Omsky, Adiel Shmit, cello

June 25-27 -- Heavenly Sunshine, Eternal Sadness

String Quartet in C Major, "Dissonant," Mozart

"Quartet for the End of Time," Messiaen

John Harrison, Sun Hye Oh, violin; Catherine Consiglio, viola; Jakub Omsky, cello; Suzanne Tirk, clarinet; James Knight, piano

July 2-4 -- Celtic music with Cathie Ryan Irish Band

July 9-11 -- Boston Brass

July 23-25 -- An American Tale

String Quartet No. 1, "From the Salvation Army," Ives

String Quartet No. 12, "American," Dvorak

Gregory Lee, Sun Hye Oh, violin; Catherine Consiglio, viola; Jakub Omsky, cello

All performances at 8 p.m. at the Barn at Prairie Pines, 4055 N. Tyler Road

Buffet meal is served at 6:30 p.m.

Season tickets are $100 for five concerts, $160 with dinner; $80 for four concerts, $130 with dinner.

Single tickets are $22 inside the Barn; $12 in the Garden. Dinner is $13 and must be purchased in advance.

For more information, call 316-264-4662.