Sunday Afternoon Live features Quartetto Gelato Sat., April 4

Quartetto Gelato, a Canadian four-some that, all dressed up, resembles a baroque quartet, will appear at the Raymond Theatre (323 Third St., Raymond) on Saturday, April 4, for a 2 p.m. performance. Tickets are $15 at the box office or $12 in advance at Sagen's, South Bend Pharmacy and Raymond Theatre; or by mail, SAL, 404 11^th St., Raymond WA 98577; or phone, 360-942-3252.

Quartetto Gelato, familiarly known as QG, includes accordion artist Alexander Sevastian who has performed singly for Sunday Afternoon Live on two occasions.

For two decades, QG has enchanted audiences and critics worldwide with their exotic blend of virtuosity, passion and humor. Classical in training - eclectic by design - Quartetto Gelato not only thrills audiences with multi-instrument mastery, but also offers a brilliant operatic tenor. Their globe-spanning repertoire of classical masterworks, operatic arias, sizzling tangos, and gypsy folk songs are delivered with their signature theatrical stage presence and relaxed humor.

QG established their reputation early by winning the coveted title of NPR Performance Today's Debut Artist of the Year. The selection panel concluded the quartet was "an amazing ensemble that achieves the nearly impossible: they play salon music with real style and classical music with real precision; Great chops and a commitment in all that they play." In 2007, the group's first DVD, "Quartetto Gelato: A Concert in Wine Country!" was picked up by PBS throughout the U.S. for broadcast, and is now shown regularly on that network.

QG was honored as Best Classical Ensemble at Canada's 2010 INDIE awards, the same year they recorded their eighth CD: "The Magic of Christmas", featuring seasonal favorites with a twist of Gelato. Their previous recordings, which play a huge role in the group's soaring popularity, are "Musica Latina", "Quartetto Gelato Travels the Orient Express", "Neapolitan Café", "Aria Fresca", "Rustic Chivalry", as well as their debut recording, simply entitled "Quartetto Gelato".

Canadian astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk chose the latter two CD's for his NASA flight on board the space shuttle Columbia, taking QG's artistry literally into outer space.

Now QG is celebrating its own: In 2014 they released their 9th CD, comprised entirely of Canadian compositions written specifically for QG. This album showcases -- in Quartetto Gelato's unique style - magnificent Canadian composers.

Sponsors for this Sunday Afternoon Live performance - on a Saturday! - are Ekone Oyster, Helen Campbell, Mike Sullivan and Ron and Gennie Hatfield.

For more information about Sunday Afternoon Live check out its website at www.sundayafternoonlive.org or send an email to sal@reachone.com.