PLAY EVERY TOWN
251 252 Community Concerts for a Cooler Climate featuring pianist David Feurzeig with Emily Taubl, cello and Paul Orgel, piano
CONCERT #30:
Sunday, May 21, 2 pm
United Methodist Church
30 Church Street, Shelburne, VT
FREE Admission
Donations will be accepted to benefit Third Act www.thirdact.org

Contact: PlayEveryTown@gmail.com (802) 434-3819
www.PlayEveryTown.com
Facebook: playeverytownVT

"Like so much of our everyday life, routine jet travel is unsustainable—which means something it's literally not possible to keep doing. I want to model a performance culture that doesn't require hopping on a plane and flying all over the world." Last May composer-pianist David Feurzeig embarked on Play Every Town: 252 free concerts in each of Vermont's 252 towns to combat climate change through the power of community and music. With this project David will become the first musician to perform in every Vermont municipality. He is traveling in his solar-charged electric vehicle throughout the state, offering free concerts to bring attention to the interrelated issues of climate and community, while bringing the joy of music to his audiences.

"I want to support Vermont's local communities with live performance in village centers and downtowns, while fulfilling UVM's mission to serve as a resource for the whole state." Feurzeig, a professor of music at UVM since 2008, specializes in genre-defying recitals that bring together music of an astonishing variety of musical styles, from ancient and classical to jazz, avant-garde, and popular traditions. These striking juxtapositions, peppered with informative and humorous commentary, create eye- and ear-opening programs that will change how you hear all kinds of music.

Each program is locally tailored. In Shelburne, longtime resident Paul Orgel will join David for selections from Karel Husa's Eight Czech Duets, while recent Shelburne arrival Emily Taubl will perform selections from Amy Beach's Five Pieces for Cello and Piano. Like every performance on the tour, this one will include its own unique Scarlatti keyboard sonata: Sonata no. thirty, the famous "Cat's Fugue", for this thirtieth concert in the project. Solo piano pieces of all styles will make up the remainder of the program, including Charles Ives' "The Alcotts" and some ragtime selections.

Feurzeig finds his approach attracts new audiences to so-called "classical" concerts and brings new insight to existing fans. "Classical music culture puts the 'Great Composers' on an almost religious pedestal. Once this was an indication of the audience's love and respect, but now it just distances people from the music. It turns away new listeners, who feel like they're in a stuffy museum instead of a live concert. Sure, the music can be serious, but there's no reason anyone should feel intimidated. If I don't get a laugh from the audience in the first two minutes, I get worried!" Follow David on his journey on Instagram, find up-to-date events for your town via Facebook, or visit the website at PlayEveryTown.com.

"Not just for stars, but in academia as well there are pressures on musicians to travel far and wide, to maintain an international presence. We take this and a thousand similar practices for granted—but they're simply not compatible with a livable world."

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Apr 30, 2024, 6 to 7 PM

May 1, 2024, 5:30 to 6:30 PM