Traverse City Events: As part of its celebration of the sounds of the season, the City Opera House is hosting a special one-two punch on Wednesday, Dec. 5. The world-renowned Empire Brass will provide the heavy lifting, while augmented by Elisabeth Von Trapp, granddaughter of the legendary Maria and Baron Von Trapp of The Sound of Music fame.
Combining the sound of a brass quintet with guitar and vocals may not be the norm, but in the hands of these virtuoso musicians, it will make perfect sense.
The Empire Brass is one of the most celebrated and in-demand brass quintets in the world. The group has toured the Far East 13 times, and performs regularly in Europe, including playing for SRO crowds in the former Soviet Union, where its concerts were broadcast on television.
The ensemble has performed with major symphony orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony and Zurich's Tönhalle Orchester. It regularly visits leading summer festivals including Ravinia, Tanglewood, Caramoor, Saratoga and Chautauqua.
If that’s not enough, the group has also appeared on ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show and PBS's Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
Elisabeth Von Trapp has done her family name proud. Building on her famed family’s passion for music, she has enthralled audiences from European cathedrals to Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center.
Both these artists have an extensive recording background as well as performing. Empire Brass has recorded some two dozen recordings, mostly on the Telarc label, while Von Trapp has released five self-produced albums.
Bringing these two dynamic groups together to share the music of the holidays is sure to get the season off to a festive start.
Tickets are $25 and $40, $15 for students. Go to CityOperaHouse.org or call the box office at 941-8082