The Griffin Collection makes debut at Villa Montalvo

Villa Montalvo is billing its upcoming concert series as the most ambitious lineup of classical music performances in its 44-year history.

The Griffin Collection: Classical Concerts with Wings , a series of 16 events, is scheduled to begin Feb. 17 and continue through April 4, 2001. All performances will take place in Montalvo's 300-seat Carriage House Theater.

As part of Montalvo's mission to inspire people's appreciation of the arts through creation and education as well as presentation, "musical conversations" are scheduled to complement several shows. Robert M. Greenberg, an award-winning composer and chair of the Department of Music and Literature at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, is the guest speaker. Wine and hors d'oeuvres are served at each of his programs. Greg Dubinsky, a visiting lecturer in music history at Yale University, presents pre-concert conversations prior to The Kronos Quartet's performances only.

The program is as follows:

* Anonymous 4, a quartet known for interweaving medieval and Renaissance music with poetry and narrative, blends classical music with historical, literary and poetic elements on Feb. 17.

* Harpsichordist and orchestra conductor Trevor Pinnock appears on March 14 with The English Concert, a group he formed in 1973 to play lively interpretations of classical music. A reception at the Villa follows.

* The Beaux Arts Trio, a chamber music ensemble that has played more than 8,000 concerts since its 1955 debut, performs the works of three composers on March 21.

* Pianist and orchestra conductor Philippe Entremont gives his 50th anniversary performance on March 24 in a collaborative program with the Steinway Society of the Bay Area. A reception at the Villa follows.

* "Multi-Culti and Po-Mo"--a conversation with Greg Dubinsky takes place April 6-7, which includes lectures on multicultural and post-modern subjects and short musical numbers.

* The Kronos Quartet, in existence since 1973, is a leading voice for new work and combines its unique musical visions with a fearless dedication to experimentation. The quartet plays April 6-7, following Dubinsky's presentations.

* The first of Robert Greenberg's conversations, "Beethoven--Bad Attitude, Bad Hair, Innovator Without Equal!" takes place April 16. Greenberg offers insights into the composer's personality and his controversial, innovative music.

* Violinist Gil Shaham, who debuted in 1981 with the Jerusalem Symphony, and pianist Akira Eguchi team up April 27 for a classical recital featuring six classical composers, from Beethoven to Copland.

* At 19, violinist Hilary Hahn has already gained a strong reputation and following. At Montalvo June 4, she performs with Garrick Ohlsson, a pianist known for his enormous musical repertoire and the passion he brings to his instrument.

* The Ahn Trio plays July 27. Comprising Angella on violin, Maria on cello and Lucia on piano, the trio performs more than 100 chamber music concerts yearly. They also commission and perform contemporary music.

* Another conversation with Greenberg, "The String Quartet--The Original Fab Four" takes place Oct. 1, at which time Greenberg presents the history of the string quartet from its Baroque roots, through the changes Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven lent to it, and up to the end of the 20th century.

* Founded in 1989, the intense St. Lawrence String Quartet performs the great classics as well as commissioned new works. Their Montalvo performance is Oct. 15.

* Alicia De Larrocha, who gave her first piano recital at age six in her native Barcelona, Spain, appears at Montalvo on Oct. 12. For some 70 years, she has played the piano with orchestras and chamber groups and appeared at music festivals and series.

* Bay Area resident and Van Cliburn Competition winner Jon Nakamatsu on Nov. 12 brings his piano-playing prowess to Montalvo for a program that is equal parts honesty, clarity, power and poetry. His performance is a collaboration with The Steinway Society of the Bay Area. A reception follows.

* Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves debuted with the Metropolitan Opera in 1995 and has since built a repertoire than includes classical music, Broadway show tunes, jazz and American spirituals. She appears at Montalvo on Jan. 21, 2001.

* The Eroica Trio on April 4, 2001, completes the Griffin Collection with its usual spirited collection of Baroque, contemporary and newly commissioned musical numbers.

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For tickets or more information about any of The Griffin Collection: Classical Concerts with Wings, call 408.961.5858 or visit www.villamontalvo.org on the Internet. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Montalvo Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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