Celebrating Franck, Mendelssohn And Frank Zappa

To complete its celebration of the Mendelssohn anniversary year,  Close Encounters With Music will present “Celebrating Mendelssohn…and Discovering Eduard Franck IIâ€, Saturday, May 30, at 6 p.m., at the Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington. The program will introduce several of Franck’s works to the American public — the masterful string Sextet No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 41, and a selection of his brilliant solo piano pieces.  Joining artistic director and cellist Yehuda Hanani are violinist Yehonatan Berick; pianist James Tocco; and the Avalon String Quartet. www.mahaiwe.org. Box office: 518-528-0100

At the Towne Crier in Pawling on Saturday, May 16, another great band is scheduled. Savoy Brown and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (with Eric Clapton) together pioneered Chicago blues in Britain, exposing young rock fans to the progenitor of rock. Brown is still at it, led by founder Kim Simmonds, whose searing guitar work has carried the band through over 30 years and more than 24 albums. This evening’s show will be celebrating the release of their brand new CD titled “Steel.†The show is at 9 p.m. $25 advance/ $30 door. Reservations and information: 845-855-1300

On Sunday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m., the Towne Crier is launching a new series, Musical Heritage Night, celebrating the musical figures who have touched and even changed our lives.

The first show in this series will celebrate the songs of Bob Dylan who turns 68 on May 24. Drawing from the wealth of musical talent in and around the Hudson Valley, this evening will feature collaborations by a group of some of the Hudson Valley’s finest musicians and singer-songwriters. All tickets $10.

The Hotchkiss Orchestra and Right Brain Logic, the school’s jazz ensemble, will perform a concert of classical and jazz music Friday, May 22, at 7 p.m., at  Elfers Hall in Lakeville. The concert is free and the public is welcome.

The Thomaston Opera House presents the identical twin pianists John and Richard Contigulia on Saturday, May 23, at 8 p.m. Acclaimed for their brilliant musicianship, the two are now the proprietors of their own recording company, Gemini CD Classics, and their release includes Schubert piano duets; duos of Franz Liszt for one and two pianos; music of Gershwin and Grainger; and, most recently, Beethoven/Liszt 9th Symphony, reflecting their lifelong commitment to popularizing the great body of music for two pianists. Tickets are $25. Student and senior discounts. 860-283-6250

Here’s a heads up on a summer event for Frank Zappa fans. I grew up listening to his very idiosyncratic and brilliantly conceived avant-garde rock, even heard him live once in Germany, and asked one of the band members how they liked touring around. He looked at me deadpan and said, “It’s a gig, man.†Zappa’s son Dweezil and his band will bring some of this music to the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie on Wednesday, July 1, at 7:30 p.m.  Upcoming fall events include Lewis Black, Shaolin Warriors, and Lyle Lovett. $52 adults, $47 members in person at the Bardavon Box Office, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie: 845-473-2072  or online at  TicketMaster: 800-745-3000.

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