Celebrating Mendelssohn/Discovering Eduard Franck
Tributes to Mendelssohn's inner circle to take place at New York's Merkin Hall
February 25 and March 5, 2009; repeats in Berkshires, Detroit and Cincinnati
GREAT
A pair of concerts, Celebrating Mendelssohn’Ķand Discovering Eduard Franck I & II, on Wednesday, February 25 and Thursday, March 5, 2009 (7:30 PM), will introduce several of his works to the American public’Äîthe masterful string Sextet No. 1 in E-flat major, op. 41; the piano trio in E-flat major, op. 22, written while under Mendelssohn's tutelage; and a selection of his brilliant solo piano pieces. Joining artistic director and cellist Yehuda Hanani are violinists Shmuel Ashkenasi and Yehnonatan Berick; pianist James Tocco; and the Avalon String Quartet.
Eduard Franck's background in many ways paralleled that of Mendelssohn himself. He was born in 1817 to a privileged banking family in Breslau that entertained the luminaries of the age: Heine, Humboldt, the Mendelssohns and Wagner. An accomplished pianist, versatile composer and renowned teacher, his professional circle overlapped with that of Mendelssohn and included the Schumanns and Chopin. Franck was part of a line of transmission of great pianists and pedagogues: Moritz Moszkowski, the Romantic pianist and composer, also born in Breslau (1854-1925), studied piano with Franck in
"I am honored to be part of the revival of such a worthy composer, along with my colleague James Tocco, and to rectify an unfortunate historical omission," says Yehuda Hanani, who was introduced to first editions of Franck's chamber music scores by his descendants in
According to Hanani, "Franck's eloquent and elegantly-crafted music gives a broader scope, deepens our understanding of the Zeitgeist that produced the German Romantic composers leading to Brahms and Strauss, and provides a glimmer of chromaticism and what was to follow. Hearing his music, there's an immediate flash of recognition as to where he fits in. In addition to the tremendous artistic satisfaction, there is also the thrill of reinstating a valuable figure who has been unjustly sidelined and is now beginning to receive his due."
The newly-discovered Franck works will be framed by the "other" Mendelssohn Trio, in C minor; Clara Schumann's Three Romances for Violin and Piano; Chopin's darkly romantic Cello Sonata; Robert Schumann's Piano Quartet; and solo piano works by Fanny Mendelssohn to demonstrate the affinities and gestalt of this group. "The idea is to recreate for these two evenings the intimate atmosphere of the 19th century salon, of which Close Encounters With Music is a modern-day version," says Hanani.
Celebrating Mendelssohn I & II, will be repeated during the 2009 season in
TICKETS AND LOCATION
Merkin Concert Hall
Goodman House
Box Office: (212) 501-3330
THE PERFORMERS
James Tocco
"’ĶHas the big technique and the expansive temperament ’Ķ A knockout performance in which the musical values were not overshadowed by the keyboard pyrotechnics. Mr. Tocco took the piece to the limit’ĶThe final fugue was built with perfect logic, but logic did not prevent it from exploding in a grandly Romantic style’Ķ" ’ÄîThe New York Times
Catapulted to prominence as a student of Claudio Arrau and first-prize winner in the ARD International Munich Competition when he replaced Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli as soloist with the Vienna Festival, pianist James Tocco enjoys an international career, performing with the most notable orchestras and conductors of our day. He has appeared with the
Shmuel Ashkenasi
"A masterly technique. Warm, clear and strong."’ÄîThe
Founder and first violinist of the Vermeer Quartet, Shmuel Ashkenasi captured top prizes at the 1962 Tchaikovsky Competition in
Yehuda Hanani
"One of the most polished performers of the post-Starker generation, and a consistently expressive artist."’ÄîThe New York Times
Yehuda Hanani has performed as a soloist with the
Yehonatan Berick
"Delicate balance and subtlety’Ķcombined with Devil-may-care expression and dynamism"’Äî
Yehonatan Berick, soloist, recitalist, chamber musician (violin and viola), and pedagogue, was a prizewinner at the 1993 Naumburg Competition and a recipient of the 1996-97 Prix Opus. He has performed with the Quebec, Winnipeg, Jerusalem, and Haifa symphonies, and the Israel, Cincinnati, Montreal, and Manitoba chamber orchestras. He has appeared in recital with such pianists as James Tocco, Louis Lortie, and Stephen Prutsman, and has collaborated in chamber music performances with artists including members of the Guarneri Quartet. Berick's festival credits include Marlboro, Ravinia, Seattle, Great Lakes, Moritzburg, Strings in the Mountains and Bowdoin, and he is a member of Musicians from Marlboro, the Lortie-Berick-Lysy Piano Trio and the Huberman String Quartet.
Avalon String Quartet
"One of the most exciting young string quartets in
Formed in 1995 at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Avalon Quartet came to the fore after participating in Isaac Stern's Chamber Music Workshop at Carnegie Hall in 1997, which led to invitations to perform at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and Stern's Chamber Music Encounters in
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH MUSIC
Close Encounters With Music stands at the intersection of music, art and the vast richness of Western culture. Entertaining, erudite and lively commentary from founder and Artistic Director Yehuda Hanani puts the composers and their times in perspective to enrich the concert experience. Since the inception of its Commissioning Project in 2001, CEWM has worked with the most distinguished composers of our time’ÄîPaul Schoenfield, Osvaldo Golijov, Lera Auerbach, Kenji Bunch, John Musto, among others’Äîto create important new works that have already taken their place in the chamber music canon. A core of brilliant performers includes pianists James Tocco, Adam Neiman, Walter Ponce and Emma Tahmizian; violinists Shmuel Ashkenasi, Yehonatan Berick, Vadim Gluzman and Toby Appel; harpsichordist Lionel Party; clarinetists Alexander Fiterstein, Charles Neidich; vocalists Amy Burton, Jennifer Aylmer, Robert White, Lucille Beer and William Sharp; the Vermeer, Amernet, Muir, Manhattan, Avalon, Hugo Wolf quartets, and Cuarteto Latinoamericano; and guitarist Eliot Fisk. Choreographer David Parsons and actors Richard Chamberlain, Jane Alexander and Sigourney Weaver have also appeared as guests, weaving narration and dance into the fabric of the programs.
"Great music played with great heart."’Äî
"There's a palpable mystique about these Close Encounters concerts."’Äî
"The program provided stellar performances...played with passion and pathos..."
’Äî
"The Close Encounters classical music series is well known for its adventurous, innovative
programming. Artistic Director Yehuda Hanani struck gold’Ķ.The performers were rewarded with a highly enthusiastic ovation."’Äî WAMC Northeast Radio
"Must see concerts...the mind-and heart-engaging Close Encounters With Music
Series!"’Äî
Labels: Close Encounters With Music, mendelssohn, Music series
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