♪ ♪ >> Hello, I'm Kathy Bissen. Welcome to Wisconsin Public Television's coverage of the "Concert in the Woods." Tonight's concert is a very special event, with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performing for the first time ever, here in the beautiful outdoor setting of the American Players Theatre near Spring Green. The Orchestra is under the baton of Music Director Andrew Sewell. And we'll hear from Maestro Sewell a little later in the show. Tonight's performance also features a special appearance by acclaimed violinist Rachel Barton. It's a beautiful night out, a perfect night to sit back, relax and enjoy the "Concert in the Woods." (applause) (applause) >> RACHEL BARTON: I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know what instrument you've just been listening to. Programs often get printed ahead of time, and as of one month ago, I received a new fiddle. (light laughter) This is the 1744 Guarneri del Gesu from Cremona, Italy, known as the "ex-Lord Coke," which I am being loaned generously by the Fazenda Ipiranga. The Fazenda is best known for their Bleu de Brazil coffee. And I'm very grateful to them for their generosity and artistic vision. Well, this violin and I would like to play one more for you. (applause) You'll probably recognize this tune from your invitation. This is the last movement of the Violin Concerto in D major by the Chevalier de Meude-Monpas. Chevalier de Meude-Monpas was a late-18th century Afro-French composer. And I'm absolutely delighted that Maestro Sewell and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra are joining me in introducing this lovely work to you tonight. (applause) >> What a beautiful first half! While the Orchestra takes a brief intermission, we'd like to share with you a conversation I had earlier with Andrew Sewell, Music Director of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. We spoke about tonight's repertoire, this unique setting and the special challenges that had to be overcome in order to perform out here at American Players Theatre. >> First of all, we had to build extra room on the stage. You know, we've got-- We've had to build some extra add-ons to the edge of the stage. It's a small stage. But it fits beautifully for a chamber orchestra. Acoustically, that's something-- Obviously, playing outside, and depending on the humidity and the heat, how much that projects. But this has been a beautiful amphitheater for, you know, live theater, of course. You get the projection of the voice. Music, this is a new experience. So, the audience members will be able to tell us. The first work we heard tonight was theCoriolan Overture. And that is inspired by, you know, the story of Coriolanus, who attempts to be a traitor to Rome. He's burning with revenge. He goes off to the opposition, the Volscians. He comes back to fight against the Romans. He's just about to bring Rome to its knees, and his mother comes out, Volumnia, and pleads with him to stop. And of course, he gives way. And at the end, of course, he's a traitor to the Volscians, and of course, a traitor to the Romans, so he dies. So, that's the tragedy. And of course, this is very appropriate to Shakespeare, both the comedies and the tragedies, which we hear out here at American Players Theatre. And it's just a, really, a very, very powerful opening. >> BISSEN: So, you really had sort of this theatrical venue and A-P-T experience in mind as you were choosing the repertoire? >> Particularly the first work, particularly the overture. The other two works, the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, of course. Rachel Barton's a phenomenally gifted violinist; a beautiful player; a beautiful person; and not far from us, here, in Chicago. And the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, one of the standards, and probably the most-played violin concerto. A beautiful work, written in 1844. And a mature work for Mendelssohn, since he was such a prodigy and started composing at a very young age. But this is an absolute masterpiece. And we're delighted that Rachel was able to play with us this evening. And again, that presents challenges to any soloist, because playing outdoors is not the usual-- Or, even without a covering. And she was very gracious to accept this invitation. >> BISSEN: I was going to ask you about the impact of this setting on the performers and the audience. It's different than at the square. >> It's definitely different from on the square, but similar in other respects, too. I mean, I think as we've progressed over the years with "Concerts on the Square," and particularly, the repertoire over the last two seasons, it's become, you know-- It isn't so much the light music. It's classical music for everybody. And there is music that can affect and touch people, whether it's lighter classical, or familiar music or serious music. And I think that a masterpiece is, in itself, always going to remain a masterpiece, for those reasons. It touches people. We've heard two great masterpieces tonight. And we're about to hear a third, with Mozart's G minor Symphony, probably the most well-known symphony of the repertoire: his famous G minor Symphony, with the opening-- A very dark opening, with the violins. Again, sort of following along that similar line of tragedy, yet it ends triumphantly. >> Our thanks to Maestro Sewell for sharing his thoughts with us. And now it's time for the "Concert in the Woods" to continue. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra returns with Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G Minor. Enjoy. (applause) >> This next work is the fourth movement of aSuite for Strings,by English composer John Rutter, more commonly known for his many Yuletide and holiday arrangements. This is a delightful suite, written in 1972. And in fact, there's a song that goes with it, that says, "Dashing away with a smoothing iron." Except it goes quickly: ♪ Dashing away with a smoothing iron... ♪ ♪ So if you are feeling-- What do they say? "Fleet of foot and fine of limb--" (laughter) You can sing along. This is "Dashing Away," the fourth movement of Rutter'sSuite for Strings. (applause)