Series turns to chamber music

Tickets are still available for an intimate evening of classical music Thursday with the Augusta Symphony Principal Players.

//

The concert is the second in the symphony's four-part Columbia County Music Series and features performances of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8 by the symphony's string quartet.

The principal players also will perform Robert Schumann's Quintet with Piano and Strings and Francis Poulenc's Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet with guest Amy Yang.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center inside Columbia County Library.

Christine Riffle, the marketing manager for the Augusta Symphony, said the first concert in the series was well-received by the community and that only two seats were unfilled for the performance.

Dr. Donald Portnoy, the symphony's music director, said the concert will offer the audience a great variety within the chamber music style.

"Robert Schumann is a great romantic composer, and probably the quintet is one of his most famous chamber works," Portnoy said.

He said Shostakovich was a prolific composer who produced exciting chamber music that should provide a contrast in style.

Tickets to the concert are $20 and can be purchased in advance or at the door, if they are available. Discounted tickets for military and full-time students are $7 at the door.

The series' third installment will take place March 3 with the Georgia Guitar Quartet.

For more information, call (706) 826-4705.

IF YOU GO

What: Columbia County Music Series presented by the Augusta Symphony

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center at the Columbia County Library

Cost: $20; $7 for students and military the day of the concert

For more information: Call (706) 826-4705