Tesla Quartet Concert

Tesla Quartet Concert
Saturday, May 16 at 2pm, Hubbard Room of the Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Dubbed ‘technically superb” by The Strad, the Tesla Quartet has garnered top prizes at numerous international competitions, including the Gold Medal at the 2012 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Prize for the International Summer Academy for Chamber Music Niedersachsen at the 2013 Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition. The Tesla Quartet was formed at The Juilliard School in 2008 and quickly established itself as one of the most promising young ensembles in New York, winning Second Prize at the J.C. Arriaga Chamber Music Competition only a few months after its inception. The London Evening Standard called their rendition of the Debussy Quartet ‘a subtly coloured performance that balanced confidently between intimacy and extraversion.” This is a free concert and there is no registration required. This concert is co-sponsored by the Edythe & Arthur Director Music Fund of Congregation Adath Israel of Middletown.

Readers Theater
Charles Ives, Take Me Home,

By Jessica Dickey,
Monday, May 18 - 7 PM
Hubbard Room

A father’s love of music and a daughter’s passion for basketball are at odds. Fortunately, they have modernist American composer Charles Ives (a Connecticut native) playing referee. Dissonance, defense and devotion are explored in this poignant yet comedic story. The New Yorker’s theater critic wrote: “Like an Ives sonata -- sometimes jagged, sometimes lyrical -- the play ... is an accomplished, affecting composition.”

The Many Faces of Laurence Olivier; a Film Discussion Series -Slueth

Tuesday May 19
12 Noon Hubbard Room

Film critic Richard Alleva completes this series with Slueth. By the time of his death in 1989, Laurence Olivier was generally recognized as the greatest British actor of the twentieth century. This was mainly due to his titanic performances on stage, but some of his greatest work was done on film.

Olivier at Twilight -In this darkly comic mystery story based on Anthony Shafer’s Broadway hit, Olivier pulls out all the stops and gives the greatest performance of his later years. Co-star Michael Caine proves more than a match for him as their character’s scheme, prank and outwit each other and keep you guessing.

From February through May, Richard Alleva, film critic for Commonweal magazine, will present and analyze Olivier’s acting in the movies that established and consolidated a reputation and career that has never yet been equaled in the English-speaking world. And glimpses into his often troubled personal life may offer some illumination, too. The upcoming film is Sleuth (May 19).

The Hip Hop Slam

Saturday, May 23, 2-4pm
Hubbard Room

The Russell Library presents The Hip Hop Slam featuring the poetry and dance talents of Middletown and the surrounding community. Headlining the show will be award winning dance troupe “Of Shadow and Earth.” Led by founders LingBa and Oni, the company has been performing and teaching for almost twenty years, promoting independence, ingenuity, and creativity through artistry. The emcee for the event is Apollo Smile, who will bring her Kung Fu Hip Hop dance performers along with her vocal talents. Other performers include poets, rappers, and dancers from the Middletown area.

If you are interested in performing, contact Matt Earls at mearls@russell.lioninc.org or call 860-347-2528 extension 135. Prepare to be slammed.

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