Concert Joy For A Sunday Afternoon

WESTON — Sayard Stone, the music director and conductor of The Connecticut Chamber Orchestra, will raise his baton on Sunday, December 3, at 2:30 pm, in Weston Library’s community room, to conduct “A Holiday Season Concert of Joy.”

The string group, an ensemble of artist performers in master works of all periods, will present a program of compositions by Handel, Mozart, Bartok, Britten and Holst.

Feature soloist will be Bernice Stochek Friedson. A long-time resident of Westport, Ms Friedson has been on the concert stage since the age of seven, and now plays first violin with Bridgeport Symphony and other area ensembles. Ms Friedson performs on a violin made by her father, Samuel Stochek.

Connecticut Chamber Orchestra (CCO) was established under its present name in 1962, following two seasons of concerts at Town Hall in New York City.

Although having performed in over a dozen European countries, Canada and Mexico, Maestro Stone is now best known for bringing an unknown concerto by the 19th Century composer Felix Mendelssohn to the public ear. Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in E minor was found about ten years ago, but never heard until the orchestra’s director and conductor recorded it two years ago in London with the celebrated London Chamber Orchestra.

The December 3 CCO event is free and open to the public. Freewill donations will be welcomed, and used to help establish a performing and visual arts space in Weston. The library, at 56 Norfield Road, can be contacted at 203/222-2656.