Album Notes

Call it a classical hoe-down or a festival with attitude. Whatever you call it, Cactus Pear Music Festival (CPMF) knows how to make concerts fun, compelling and memorable. Whether performing traditional chamber music [Brahms, Mozart, Schubert, Correlli among others] or serving up modern works [Schoenfield, Martinu, Bermel, Piazzolla, etc], the performances are always riveting: sometimes poignant, sometimes edgy, sometimes driving ... but always compelling.

Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio--Artistic Director of CPMF, violinist for the Reno-based Argenta Trio, former Concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony and member of The Cleveland Orchestra--has performed with The Chamber Society of Lincoln Center, the Miami String Quartet, the Amici String Quartet, Cleveland's Myriad, and San Antonio's Olmos Ensemble. The Sant'Ambrogio name has a long classical music lineage. Ms. Sant'Ambrogio's grandparents were concert musicians, her father was the Principal Cello for St. Louis Symphony, and sister Sara the cellist for the award-winning Eroica Trio. With over 25 years of professional life in the classical music world, Stephanie has many friends at the top-tier of classical music who join her each summer to produce a festival that continuously brings the house down.

Mike Greenberg of the San Antonio Express-News had this to say about the fifth season of CPMF in 2001: "The Cactus Pear Music Festival opened its fifth season with a packed house and an object lesson in how to succeed in the allegedly dying classical music business." [July 10, 2001]

This 2-CD set is a compilation of some of the best moments from the first five seasons of the festival. CD 1 begins with a beautiful performance of Brahms' String Sextet in G major and includes such mainstream composers as Mozart, Schubert and Corelli . . . and ends with a taste of the 20th century from Debussy. CD 2 stays in the contemporary strain beginning with celebrated American Paul Schoenfield and completes its modern travels with a swing into Mexico and a unique arrangement of a classic and familiar Mexican song by August ín Lara.

For over 2 hours worth of sublime music making from some of the top chamber musicians in North America and abroad, for a 2-CD set that takes you from the sublimely traditional to wonderful modern compositions, check out Cactus Pear Music Festival's LIVE from the First Five.