Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Around Town

Classic series begins again at St. Luke's

By Emilie Doolittle

Classical music is sometimes difficult to find, what with the radio and television often playing synthesized pop and repetitive beats. The thought of Mozart, Brahms and Spanish classical music played by string quartets, in a Mission-style church may sound appealing, and that's what the Sunset Concert series has to offer.

World-renowned musicians, who have played in such places as Carnegie Hall in New York City and Wigmore Hall in London, are coming to Los Gatos to perform in the series at St. Luke's Church, 20 University Ave.

Business director Ted Lorraine and artistic director Susie Fleming have organized the ninth season of the Sunset Concert series at the century-old, Spanish-style church, which seats 150 people.

"The audience sits very close to the artists," said Fleming. "The close proximity of the audience to the performer provides a musical experience unlike the ones you would get in a larger concert hall."

"This is some of the most thoughtful music," added Lorraine. "With just one musician on a part, you hear a great clarity in the music. The emotional impact of hearing this great music in a small venue up close, it's very thrilling. I think we all need music for our mental health and artistic life."

"Judging the quality of the artists' music is where Ted Lorraine comes in," said Fleming. "He is extremely educated in this area. He's a lover and a listener, and he's been in contact with artists for many years."

The first concert, Feb. 17, 8 p.m., features the Formosa String Quartet, winners of the first prize and the Amadeus Prize at the 10th London International String Quartet Competition held at Wigmore Hall in 2006. The quartet was founded in 2003 when the four members, who share a common ethnic heritage, came together for a concert in Taiwan. Formosa String Quartet's 2007-08 season includes concerts at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., Da Camera Society in Los Angeles and the Caramoor Center for Music and Arts in New York. The quartet performs pieces from Mozart, Schubert and Brahms.

The Sunset Concert series continues over the next three months. La Catrina String Quartet will perform classical songs written by Latino composers on March 14; the Weilerstein Piano Trio, from the New England Conservatory of Music, will play classical songs on April 12; and Musica Pacifica, a quartet from Pacifica, will play Baroque pieces on May 23.

"The musicians have names that are recognizable around the world because their talent is worthy of remembering," said Fleming.

The Sunset Concerts, a nonprofit entity funded by grants from the Arts Council Silicon Valley and the town of Los Gatos, provides world-class chamber music at St. Luke's Church.

"You can really make a wonderful evening in the downtown," said Lorraine.

For concert tickets or for more information, call 408.354.4560.