Ahh… “Fresh Air”

Talented woodwind players add to winter’s “Fresh Air” this weekend. Join the Felici Piano Trio and guests Saturday night, 7:30 p.m. at Cerro Coso College in Mammoth, along with their special guests flutist Pamela Vliek Martchev and bassoonist Valentin Martchev. The San Diego-based couple open the evening with Jean Francaix’s “Impromtus,” compositions of lightness and wit that evoke “faire plaisir” (giving pleasure), through music.

Like Francaix, who also composed for movies, New York-born flutist Pamela Vliek Martchev’s work can be heard on numerous movie soundtracks such as “Bedtime Stories” and “The Soloist.” She’s played at Carnegie Hall, the United Nations and the White House for President Bill Clinton. She currently teaches flute at Riverside Community College and San Diego State University. Pamela is married to Bulgarian bassoonist Valentin Martchev, who will pair with Felici Trio pianist Steven Vanhauwaert in the Sonata for Bassoon and Piano by prolific 19th century French composer Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921). Mr. Martchev has played with the San Diego Symphony as their principal bassoonist, and currently serves on the faculty of San Diego State University.

The bassoon’s range and expression can further be heard in the “Quartet for Flute, Viola, Cello and Bassoon” by Classical-era composer Francois Devienne (1759-1803). And The humorous highlight of the program has to be Mozart’s rarely- performed “Quintet K617 for Glass Harmonica, Flute, Violin, Bassoon and Cello,” in which all five musicians join together.

Tickets ($15/adult, $10/senior and $5/student) are available online at www.ChamberMusicUnbound.org, at Access Art & Business Center, Inyo Council for the Arts or at the door after 6:45 p.m.  –Press Release