Butler Barn, a renovated rustic venue in Tualatin Valley, hosts Concerts at the Barn, founded by Niel DePonte, principal timpanist of the Oregon Symphony. The season is themed "the Combo Concert Festival," pairing a classical first half with non-classical second halves such as jazz and popular music. The festival ran on three Wednesday evenings. The opening concert featured Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata with cellist Trevor Fitzpatrick and pianist Maria Garcia alongside jazz standards with Darrell Grant and Sherry Alves. On August 6 the Rosebud String Quartet performed Haydn's String Quartet in F minor, Op. 20, No. 5, with notably lyrical phrasing.
Butler Barn is the home of a classical music series called Concerts at the Barn. It's the brainchild of Niel DePonte, longtime Principal Timpanist with the Oregon Symphony who is also known for his conducting and composing. He founded Concerts at the Barn five years ago, and it has become an attractive summer event, especially for people who don't want to drive into downtown Portland.
Thematically, DePonte has called this season "the Combo Concert Festival." The first half of each concert has a classical flair and the second half offers something non-classical, such as jazz and popular music. The festival took place on three Wednesday evenings, and I unfortunately could not attend the first concert (July 30), which featured Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata in G major - with cellist Trevor Fitzpatrick and pianist Maria Garcia - and a selection of jazz standards with pianist Darrell Grant and vocalist Sherry Alves.
I did make it to the following two concerts. It was a perfectly gorgeous day when the Rosebud String Quartet opened the concert on August 6th with Haydn's String Quartet in F minor, Opus 20, No. 5. Based in Alberta, Canada, the ensemble (violinists Aaron Schwebel and Sheila Jaffé, violist Keith Hamm, and cellist Leana Rutt) gave an elegant account of the Haydn, drawing out its lyrical melodies.
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