Thursday, January 18, 2007 Older Editions

Chopin works, from the heart

The Andover Chamber Music Series, Julie Scolnik, artistic director, invites townspeople into the emotional world of Frederic Chopin with two concerts celebrating Valentine's Day. The first is on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m., in Pickman Hall at the Longy School of Music, Cambridge, followed by a performance on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 4 p.m. at the Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, North Andover.

The concert, featuring three Chopin works, includes flute transcriptions of 2 Nocturnes, the virtuosic Introduction et Polonaise Brillante for cello and piano (arranged by Gendron Françaix), and an original 19th century chamber arrangement of the Concerto No. 2 in F minor. Paired with the Chopin will be two soprano arias from Norma and I Capuleti e i Montecchi by Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, whom organizers call a master of plaintive melody and who greatly influenced Chopin's lyrical style.

The concert will be performed by ACMS ensemble-in residence Mistral and guests.

Members of Mistral include Ya-Fei Chuang, piano; Irina Muresanu, violin; Jan Muller-Szeraws, cello; Donald Palma, bass; and Julie Scolnik, flute. Guest artists include Barbara Kilduff, soprano; Markus Placci, violin; Carol Rodland, viola; and Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano.

Reserved seats are $30 and $25 at the Rogers Center for the Arts.

General seating at the Longy School of Music is $30. Group sales and student rush are available.

At the conclusion of the Sunday afternoon concert, guests are invited to A Taste of Music II with hors d'oeuvres, wine and desserts where they may meet the musicians and enjoy samplings from Andover-area caterers and restaurants.

Tickets are an additional $25 for concert ticket holders and $30 without. For more information, call 978-474-6222 or go to www.andoverchambermusic.org.