Rorianne Schrade | New York Concert Review, Inc.

SKP Management Presents Sang Ae Kim in Review

SKP Management Presents Sang Ae Kim

Sang Ae Kim, flute; Jaeyoun Yoo, piano; Jaehyeon Ha, cello

Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY

September 15, 2016

An extremely impressive recital took place this week, that of flutist Sang Ae Kim, already solidly established in teaching and orchestral positions in South Korea, but appearing this week in her New York debut at Weill Hall primarily as soloist. In works of Vinci, Beaser, Holliger, Gaubert, and Martin, she was unfailingly polished and assured in some tremendously difficult repertoire. In some of the more recently composed, adventurous repertoire, this listener was reminded of hearing the flutist Marina Piccinini decades ago and being left with the impression that there must be nothing beyond such a player’s grasp; interestingly (perhaps not coincidentally) Ms. Kim has studied with Ms. Piccinini at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where she received her Master of Music degree and Graduate Performance Diploma. She has also studied at the Korea National University of Arts under Zvelev Valentin, privately with Hye Kyung Lee, Soo-Kyung Park, and Keith Underwood, and as a DMA candidate at Boston University in the studio of Elizabeth Ostling.

Starting off the program was the Flute Sonata in D Major by Leonardo Vinci (1690-1730) – not to be confused with the Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci, born over two-hundred years earlier (1452-1519)! This eighteenth-century Vinci, well-known for his operas, wrote some delightful instrumental works as well, of which perhaps the most famous is this one. It made for a gracious opening, with the basso continuo accompaniment tastefully realized by pianist JaeYoun Yoo, superb collaborator for the evening. A pristine Adagio opened and a buoyant Allegro followed, bubbling with clear and precise flute arpeggios. The central Largo movement was appropriately meditative, and the closing Pastorella and Presto were scintillating with delicate and varied articulations. Throughout the concert Ms. Kim played with a focused and beautiful tone, but here it was slightly mellower than the subsequent pieces – perhaps due to what appeared to be a change of the flute’s head joint, something one sees increasingly in earlier repertoire.

Sang Ae Kim

Fast-forwarding to some high-powered twentieth-century virtuosity, the program continued with the Variations for Flute and Piano (1982) by Robert Beaser (b.1954), noted American composer and Chairman of the Composition Department at Juilliard for over twenty years. The Variations are, as the program notes describe (quoting noted flutist and piccoloist Walfrid Kujala), “the flutist’s Mount Everest.” Starting off in folk like simplicity, and progressing through quasi-impressionistic and rhapsodic elaborations, it is a captivating work that tests the limits of flute-playing, but always with a sense of musical integrity. Ingeniously arranged as three movements, but each containing variations on the first movement’s theme, it has a feeling of inevitability and unity throughout. The atmospheric second movement, entitled Nocturne contains a cadenza that “pulls out all the stops” technically and dramatically. Ms. Kim was in top form here, approximating a musical dialogue with herself from register to register, retaining continuity all the while. It was stunning. The last movement (Variations 11-15, the last a coda) consummated the work with brilliance, flawless and unflagging. If Ms. Kim hadn’t taken the tiniest visible breath following the last note, one might never have suspected that she had climbed a musical mountain. Special kudos go as well to the pianist Ms. Yoo, who had to be master of her own challenging part as well as sensitive support to Ms. Kim at every step of the climb.

After intermission we heard Ms. Kim unaccompanied in a work entitled (é)cri(t) for Solo Flute (2006) by Heinz Holliger (b. 1939). Mr. Holliger has been renowned for decades as an oboist, but is also quite active as a composer. His piece (é)cri(t) is a play on the French word for “cry” (cri), embedded in the word “ecrit” (“written”). As the excellent program notes by Elizabeth Stern state, “Holliger explores the transformation of primordial sound into music.” With the multiphonics, harmonics, and whistle tones that range from a scream and wail down to a whisper, it was clear again that nothing was beyond Ms. Kim’s range.

On a somewhat lighter note the program progressed with a lush set of pieces by Philippe Gaubert (1897-1941) entitled Trois Aquarelles (Three Watercolors) for Flute, Cello and Piano (1915) with the ensemble of Ms. Kim and Ms. Yoo augmented by the talents of cellist Jaehyeon Ha. Ms. Ha’s cello lines intertwined with the flute’s in lovely balance. The Aquarelles are a fragrantly French set, not far from the styles of Fauré or Roussel, and the trio brought out some beautiful musical colors while blending with good balance. Par un clair matin (On a Clear Morning) took the listener to such a dreamy tonal world that one asked how it could have been composed in the midst of World War I – but the second piece, Soir d’Automne (Autumn Evening) answered with bittersweet nostalgia. The third piece, Sérénade, returned the listener from dreams back to the external world in dancelike rhythms.

To close the program Ms. Kim and Ms Yoo played the Ballade for Flute and Piano by Frank Martin (1890-1974). Composed in 1939, the work is rather brooding and intense at the start but growing in energy to a fiery, brilliant close. The duo played it with burning commitment and received several curtain calls in hearty approval, eliciting an unannounced gently lyrical encore.

To say that Ms. Kim performs with a focused demeanor would be an understatement. She is so single-minded in her mission that she seems psychically cordoned off from her audience. In fact, the first three rows of the audience were cordoned off with tape, perhaps a good idea in these days of rude distractions, but an infrequent occurrence. At any rate, the resulting air of solemnity – along with justifiable expectations of great playing – seemed to inspire unusually attentive listening, and the audience was impressively silent through even the quietest of tones (excluding one intrusive marimba ringtone).

Bursts of cheering were heard at the evening’s conclusion, and it was gratifying to see the faint flicker of a smile cross Ms. Kim’s face.

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

Simply Music – Andre Hajj: CD in Review

Simply Music – André Hajj, Oud & Composition;

with Paul Abou Gharib, Naji Azar, Antoine Khalife, violins; Samir Siblini, Nay; Gilbert Yammine, Quanun; Rony Barrak, Rhythm, Ali Khatib, Riq

Recorded at Studio PAG (Paul Abu Gharib), Tracks: 2,4,5,7, & 9

Recorded at Joseph Kallab, Tracks: 1,3,6,8,10, & 11

https://andrehajj.wordpress.com/

A CD called “Simply Music” was recently assigned to me to review, music of Andre Hajj, a Lebanese oud player, conductor, lecturer, composer, and arranger. Now available at various sites including CDBaby ( Simply Music CD: AndreHajj ), the recording, as we are told on a side note, is expected to be of particular interest to those who like music of Farid al-Atrash (1910-1974, Syrian Druze composer, singer-actor, and oud player), Riad al-Sunbati (1906-1981, Egyptian composer and oud player), and Zakariyya Ahmad (1896-1961, Egyptian musician). Though all of these musicians left the world 35-55 years ago, their music did not, and they are idolized in much of the Arab world. Mr. Hajj, who is also immensely popular in Arab regions, possesses the musical gifts to be included in their ranks, but beyond that he possesses the youthful energy and appeal to bring his native music to the next generation. If one is interested in the music of Lebanon, Syria, and the Middle Eastern region (and current world events encourage this), this CD should be of considerable interest.

For those not familiar with the oud, it is essentially a Middle Eastern lute, in this case an especially lovely looking instrument crafted by respected luthier Fady Matta. It possesses many qualities of a modern guitar, though with its own unique timbres. Other instruments in the recorded ensembles include the qanun (a zither-like instrument), violins, percussion (including the riq, from the tambourine family), and the nay (or ney), which resembles the pan-flute in sound.

As a disclaimer, this reviewer has generally been a devotee of the traditional Western tuning system known as equal-temperament and not so much an aficionado of Arabic music, so the pitch variations of the traditional Arabic “maqams” (employing quarter tones and commas between the traditional Western semitones) are not second nature; it is good, however, to go out of one’s comfort zone, and the CD’s title itself – “Simply Music” – urges the listener to look beyond labels to the universality of music as a language.

The first and title track is “Mouci’a bass” translated as “Simply Music.” The composer states that because so many Arabic pieces are played with lyrics, and this one is not, he wanted to call it “Simply Music.” It is an accessible introduction to Mr. Hajj’s style. Starting with the kind of dramatic opening that one finds throughout the CD, Mr. Hajj’s oud resembles the more familiar balalaika here in its doleful tremolando solo, before all gets rolling with violins and a danceable folk-like rhythmic background (credited to Rony Barrak throughout the CD).

For each of the eleven tracks on this CD, there is minimal information in the liner, but I received some supplementary notes supplied by an agent of the composer. It is my suggestion that this additional information (and hopefully more) be supplied in the liner notes if there is a reissuing, as there could be broader appeal with more understanding of each piece.

The second track is somewhat mysteriously entitled “Dolce” – not quite the word brought to mind by its driving rhythmic undercurrent and repeating bass line (and largely minor mode), but interesting nonetheless. It opens with chiefly unison string lines – a stark effect resembling a midi synthesizer sound – before percussion instruments enter. The composer, Mr. Hajj, and his ensemble perform it with rhythmic elan. From the composer’s agent we learn that “this piece consists of A minor to C minor to Rast [an Arabic maqam] to A minor. This transition of these scales and Maqams in the Arabic music is very challenging. Andre Hajj makes all these transitions smoothly without making any dissonances.” We all listen for different things, and this listener has recently done much reading on and study of the maqams, but ultimately it is the melodic shape, rhythmic energy, and intensity of spirit that carry the day with this music. A Western musician can enjoy these aspects with little knowledge of the maqam, though he may subconsciously be adjusting the quarter tones and converting some of it mentally to modernized Greek modes.

The third track, listed as “Heard 1” on the disc, is also in the supplementary notes called “Music Heard.” We are told that “listening to this piece makes you think that you have heard these tunes yet in reality the tunes are fresh and that’s why it’s called Music Heard.” After hearing it even once, one does find it cycling around in one’s mind, so it could be called “Heard 100!” Melodies center on the first, fifth, and sixth scale degrees – think of an accelerated “Twinkle Twinkle” à la libanaise, with quarter tone inflections. The quarter tones here challenge equal-temperament ears even more than previous tracks do, but one starts to hear it as simply Mixolydian after a while, especially with the rustic timbres of Samir Sablini’s ney (flute) mediating, plus quite skillful playing by Gilbert Yammine on the quanun, Antoine Khalife on violin, and more percussion from Rony Barrak.

“Music Heard 2” – fast forwarding to track 6 – shares the title idea of the third track. As the composer’s notes state, it is “a piece of music that resembles Maqam Bayati and Bashraf. Again, one thinks that these tunes were heard, but in reality they are freshly composed.” To this listener, the piece is quite different from “Music Heard 1” and one’s attention is captured here again by some beautiful, atmospheric playing of the ney by Samir Sablini. It is a highlight of the collection, and one of the longer ones at just under six minutes. Pitches that might be alien to the equal-temperament crowd are softened by the wide vibrato and sensual timbres of the ney. The tones are breathy in the beautiful ethereal way that a pan flute can be.

Many of the selections on this CD seem a combination of classical and popular or folk idioms. The fourth track, “At night,” opens with a string-based introduction from Paul Abou Gharib that almost prepares one for a Vivaldi ensemble piece before taking us back to the Middle East with the characteristic modal flavor and sounds of the riq, played by Ali Khatib. The play between the dominant and flat sixth in the bass remind one of the flamenco sounds that owe so much to Arabic and Moorish influence. The supplementary comments state that this piece is a “blend of traditional and modern Arabic music in Hijaz and sama’i rhythmic mode that ends in 10/8, 16/8, 4/4, 2/4, 10/8, 2/4;” the effect, however, is disarmingly simple. It ends in a vigorous dance style that many will find infectious.

The fifth track of the CD is entitled, “Between La and Do”. The composer’s notes state that, “Between the Notes A and C, this piece is composed in A minor and C Major. This composition broke the rules of composing Arabic music using these two scales.” After the characteristic extended introduction, including some soloistic violin lines from Naji Azar, a rhythmic dance takes over. The latter part again features the tonic, fifth and sixth scale intervals (so in a way this piece could be called “Music Heard” as well). Thus there is an organic quality connecting many of the pieces on this CD, but there is still plenty of variety.

The seventh track, entitled “Flamenco” – again with a dramatic (dominant chord) introduction and some virtuosic solo playing – breaks out into a typical music for that dance style– flashy, percussive and dizzying with some exceptional virtuosity from all players. This will probably be a popular favorite of many.

Perhaps the overall favorite of this listener is the eighth track, Khawater (“Reflections”), introducing more magic from the ney of Samir Siblini, plus oud and violin. It is a captivating musical journey, so evocative of spacious Mid-Eastern landscapes that one imagines it could be used to very good effect for a film score.

The CD continues with “Ud Fantasy”(track nine), and Andre Hajj is front and center. It is as simplistic harmonically but with energetic rhythms and plenty of charisma and virtuosity from Mr. Hajj.

The penultimate track ten is a piece entitled “6 am” and adds a note of humor. The supplementary notes on the composer state that it is “dedicated to his son who used to wake up every day at 6:00 AM when he was a baby.” From the solemn, stately opening octaves one would not guess that the piece relates to the ritual of a baby’s daily awakening, but the image adds a note of humor to the set. Pizzicato strings and mischievous rests and pauses add a playful element.

The CD closes with an introspective work entitled “Last One.” It is fittingly nostalgic, opening with a sort of oud tremolo soliloquy but never bursting into the lively dance as in so many others – instead closing quietly.

Mr. Hajj is quite a versatile musician, as is reflected in the varied selections he composed, arranged and played for this CD, with some pieces being introspective and atmospheric, and some highly rhythmic and resembling more commercial popular dance music. It will be interesting to follow his career as his reputation continues to spread.

Born in 1967, Mr. Hajj was among the first conductors born and educated in Beirut. He studied at the University of Holy Spirit, Kaslik, and his biography lists that was the first conductor to give repeated television lectures on Oriental Music, starting in 2011. As a composer he has written orchestral music, chamber music, film music, and choral works, with many of his works performed by Lebanese Oriental Orchestra (which he has conducted since 2011) and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra. He has regularly led performances at major concert venues in Beirut, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, London, Italy, Qatar, Morocco and has appeared on radio and international television. His biography states that he has demonstrated a deep commitment to elementary and secondary school music education, developing new talent and providing solo performance experience to young artists.

It should not be surprising, therefore, that Mr. Hajj’s CD shows an overall musical conception that goes beyond merely playing the oud, though he does that brilliantly. One awaits with interest his next step.

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

Book Review: Ignacio Cervantes and the XIX-Century Cuban Danza

By Salomón Gadles Mikowsky

Ignacio Cervantes and the XIX-Century Cuban Danza

By Salomón Gadles Mikowsky

LAP, Lambert Academic Publishing

273 pp (including Appendices and Bibliography)

New York, NY 2016

ISBN: 978-3-659-82531-6

It is not every day that one encounters a flexible and inspiring teacher of classical performance who is also an uncompromising and meticulous scholar, but apparently we have both in Salomón (or Solomon) Gadles Mikowsky, as is evident in his newly published book, Ignacio Cervantes and the XIX-Century Cuban Danza. We also have here a “must read” book for those interested in the music of our neighbor to the south – and especially given recent developments in diplomatic relations, that ought to be quite a few. More specifically, we have an excellent study of Cuba’s most important nineteenth-century composer, Ignacio Cervantes (1847-1905), and a diachronic exploration of his favored pianistic form, the Danza, not only central to most Cuban music of his day, but influential to all that followed. In other words, if one is interested in a deep and thorough understanding of Cuban music, one will want to read this book.

Regular readers of New York Concert Review may have read my January review of Kookhee Hong’s book The Piano Teaching Legacy of Solomon Mikowsky, but to summarize, Ms. Hong’s book reflects Solomon Mikowsky’s role in the world as a pianist, pedagogue, and person. A reader may click here to read that review: Book review-The Piano Teaching Legacy of Solomon Mikowsky. Ms. Hong’s book, (also published by LAP) proved to be a somewhat fast and conversational read, so having been assigned to review this one, I was not quite prepared for the dense scholarship. The latter is an updated version of Dr. Mikowsky’s doctoral dissertation from 1973, Teachers College, Columbia University, so of course a breezy read it is not; it is, however, an extremely reasonable introductory course in Cuban music, and considering the voluminous materials that had to be predigested or evaluated for even each footnote, it is relatively short at 273 pages!

Naturally as an updated dissertation, this book on Cervantes is a highly specialized study. As such, it is appropriate for the serious student or professional, with references to chords and terms that presume at least an intermediate-level musical education; that said, much of it could be appreciated on a broader cultural level, as Dr. Mikowsky’s writing touches on many aspects of Cuban life beyond musical ones. Salomón Mikowsky (appropriately using his Cuban name as author) shows passionate dedication to his heritage. That dedication is absolutely essential in this area of music history, previously hindered by inadequate scholarship, domestic upheaval in Cuba, confusing and daunting nomenclature, and perhaps even a too-casual attitude towards the Danza, due to its social origins and the prevailing Euro-centricity of Cervantes’ day. Though there are now some respected reference books on Cuban music and Cervantes (cited by the author himself), it is clear that Dr. Mikowsky was a pioneer to be pursuing this study in the early 1970’s. As Radamés Giró, Cuba’s leading musicologist states in the Preface, “it was the first biography-study ever written about a Cuban composer from the 19^th century.”

Ignacio Cervantes is neatly divided into two parts. Part I includes the introduction and background of the Danza, related forms, and the musical predecessors of Cervantes (prominently Manuel Saumell), and Part II is devoted to Cervantes, the man and his music, including generous musical examples and analyses. The Appendices that follow include some 44 pages of Cervantes Danzas that are a reason in and of themselves to buy this book (not to mention additional examples by other composers). Ensuing discussions of various editions and a helpful bibliography listing several hundred titles make this a valuable resource for pianists as well as a springboard for further study.

As stated before, the book is scholarly, packed densely with information, evaluation of sources, explanation of bibliographic and ethnographic considerations, discussion of the origins and even choreography of related dances: the longway, quadrille, cotillion, contredanses, contradanzas, the danza, and the danzón, among others. One may grow faint of heart from what seems a confusing array of fine distinctions in the dances’ overlapping evolutions and transitions from European forms to Latin American, but Dr. Mikowsky does sort it all out tirelessly, with clarity, and with a sense of mission in defining the forces behind a national musical identity. He strikes an expert balance between detail and overview. The origins of the Danza’s precursors from France, Spain, and England are convincingly disentangled based on every conceivable source, and the effects of African and Haitian-French influences are discussed and also disentangled.

Areas of controversy or ambiguity are labeled as such with honesty and integrity, including as an example a point of disagreement with Nicolas Slonimsky on whether Cervantes actually studied with Louis Moreau Gottschalk as often reported (the reader will have to read that for himself – no spoilers here!), but all is illuminated by Dr. Mikowsky’s solid foundation of knowledge. We see the many layers of scholarship behind each statement but are not forced to wade through that scholarship ourselves – mercifully!

Moments in the biographical section are particularly fascinating, including mention of Cervantes auditioning in Paris in front of Charles Gounod (playing the Herz Concerto No. 5 which he had had left only two weeks to learn), embarking on a career in France and Spain, and beginning friendly relations with Franz Liszt. Cervantes became friends with Gioacchino Rossini (and an accompanist for him), as well as with Adelina Patti and Princess Marcelline Czartoryska, a pupil of Chopin who gave Cervantes some of Chopin’s works annotated in his own hand. One imagines that if there were tabloids in heaven, they would contain similar intermingling of legends. Cervantes did indeed win many hearts in Europe, but for reasons on which one can only theorize, he arrived back in his native Cuba in 1870, where he stayed (with the exception of trips to the US and Mexico) and composed what became a source of pride for Cuban musicians. It was not the Europeanized music of his teacher Nicolás Ruiz Espadero or of those Europeans who visited on tour and adopted a Cuban flavor for a miniature or two, but it was the beginnings of a national music.

To express a minor reservation, I would suggest that for the next edition there could be further editing of the prefatory material by Dr Mikowsky’s colleagues, as they contain a few obvious careless errors and some longwinded language (perhaps from awkward translating or language issues). A preface should whet one’s appetite to read a book, not slow one down! I am glad such a matter did not deter me, as the book is one of considerable importance.

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

The Eighth New York International Piano Competition in Review

The Eighth New York International Piano Competition (NYIPC) under the Auspices of the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation

Greenfield Hall, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY

June 24, 2016

It was an honor and pleasure to be asked to review the awards recital of the New York International Piano Competition – now its Eighth Biennial event – as I had enjoyed and written quite favorably about its seventh competition back in 2014. Interested readers may wish to read about the 2014 edition by following the link here: Seventh International Piano Competition in Review. To reiterate my positive reactions, this competition stands out in two special ways from other competitions. First of all, everyone is a winner in a way, because, in addition to the major prizes, there is a finalists’ award for each of the remaining contestants. Secondly, there is outstanding commitment to maintain relationships between the contestants and the organization, under the leadership of Melvin Stecher and Norman Horowitz, both veteran musicians and mentors. To read more about this remarkable duo, the reader can also read a recent article by Frank Daykin entitled “The Musical Father Figures We All Need” by clicking here: The Musical Father Figures We All Need. One may also click here to visit the competition website: http://stecherandhorowitz.org/competition/.

In addition to the two above-mentioned pluses and the “no elimination” policy (everyone getting to play every round), this competition is perhaps unique among soloist competitions in holding a piano-four-hand round, an appropriate signature feature given the history of the duo-pianist founders, Stecher and Horowitz. This year’s inclusion of John Corigliano’s Gazebo Dances was a particular joy. This competition boasts plenty of other pluses, including its distinguished jury and excellent track record for selecting talent, but the numbers tell their own story: this year’s twenty-two pianists were selected from an international field of over 150 applicants, and many of them traveled a long way for it.

These award evenings tend to start with a string of speeches. We heard from Mr. Stecher, Mr. Horowitz, and Chairman of the Board William S. Hearst, in addition to the delightful Master of Ceremonies, Robert Sherman, of WQXR fame. As engaging as the speeches were, one could not help empathizing with the twenty-two contestants seated onstage awaiting the calling of names and, in the cases of some winners, their own chance to perform. It won’t be the last time these youngsters (ages 16-21) are required to have nerves of steel in their chosen field, but the speeches are certainly a rigorous test. The winners were certainly up to the challenge.

We heard from First Prize Winner, Aristo Sham, who dazzled with Scriabin’s Sonata No. 9, Op. 68 (the “Black Mass”) as well as with Two Impromptus, Op. 131 by Lowell Liebermann. The latter was commissioned by the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation to be played by each contestant, and Mr. Sham happened also to win the award for Best Performance of Commissioned Work, so he gave the Impromptus what could be considered their public premiere on this occasion. It would be difficult to imagine them played more compellingly. Mr. Sham showed tremendous command, involvement, and what seemed to be intimacy with the piece, showing meditative lyricism through its melancholy sections and fierce intensity through its severe contrasts. It was impressive to consider that he, like all contestants, had been sent the scores only two months prior. Fortunately Mr. Liebermann, a fine pianist himself, writes some of the most idiomatic piano music today, so any contestant would be delighted to be assigned the Two Impromptus as a “test piece” – Mr. Sham said as much to emcee Robert Sherman, and volunteered that he was (“obviously”) already familiar with Mr. Liebermann’s Gargoyles. (How old that made me feel, as I recall when they were “hot off the press!”) The Impromptus are a welcome enrichment to the contemporary piano repertoire, and Mr. Sham will be an able champion for them.

Originally from Hong Kong, educated in London, and currently enrolled at Harvard University and New England Conservatory, the 20-year-old Mr. Sham is a young phenomenon. His Scriabin, in addition to showing passion and pianism, reflected logic and clarity, two qualities one doesn’t always associate with Scriabin but which are nonetheless vital in holding it together. Every note had a decisive place in the grand scheme of things, and the more extroverted moments had a strong sense of inevitability. One’s interest in Mr. Sham’s Beethoven was certainly piqued (and he had offered Op. 106 in earlier rounds, but opted here to play Scriabin, with help from an audience “vote” he solicited). There is clearly much to look forward to, both for Mr. Sham and for us.

We also heard from talented Second Prize Winner Angie Zhang, also age 20, in Los Requiebros from Goyescas by Granados. Ms. Zhang’s playing was warmly expressive, sensitive and polished, just right for this piece. Almost as impressive was her ease and eloquence in speaking about the music, to share a bit about the composer and give the audience some context. It almost seemed as if this were not an awards night but simply a chance to share music. Ms. Zhang will be a valuable advocate for classical music from her generation if this evening is any gauge. One looks forward to hearing her again, hopefully in a more telling variety of repertoire.

We did not hear the other prizewinners as soloists, but Jiacheng Xiong, age 19, from China, won Third Prize, and Evelyn Mo, age 17, from the US, took Fourth Prize. For the four-hands ensemble component, Second Prize went to the team of Jhiye Lin, age 19, from China, and Aaron Kurz, age 20, from the US.

First Prize in the ensemble round went to the team of Prudence Poon, age 19, from Hong Kong, and Jooyeon Ka, age 20, from Korea, who performed a pair of Corigliano’s wonderful Gazebo Dances with festive spirit. The Waltz showed nuance, elasticity, and playfulness that were just right. Despite a supposed language barrier during rehearsal (when asked, Ms. Poon said they relied somewhat on “body language”), they obviously had found a rapport. The feisty Tarantella was stunningly together, with an exciting display of fireworks at the end. The audience heartily approved. Mr. Sherman, with ever-perfect timing asked, “see what body language can achieve?”

All who participated in this event are to be congratulated, and certainly among them the distinguished panel of Francis Brancaleone and Anthony Lamagra (Screening Jury) and the Competition Jury of Tong-Il Han, Jane Coop, Ian Hobson, Orli Shaham, Jeffrey Swann, and Erik Tawastjerna. One eagerly awaits the Ninth NYIPC in 2018!

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

The International Violin Competition of Indianapolis Presents Jinjoo Cho, Violin, in Review

The International Violin Competition of Indianapolis Presents Jinjoo Cho

Jinjoo Cho, violin; Hyun Soo Kim, piano

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY

June 9, 2016

Violinist Jinjoo Cho is a discovery. Well, to be fair, she was discovered as 2014 Gold Medalist at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, one of the most prestigious violin competitions in the world – and before that, at the 2006 Montreal International Music Competition (winning at age 17), and at quite a few other venues worldwide. I had not heard her though, and despite being spoiled from decades of hearing great violin playing (from over a century if one counts recordings), I was completely won over. Ms. Cho has it all – brilliant technique, musicality, passion, intelligence, flair, and an engaging stage presence. It is always exciting to hear an important debut at Carnegie Hall, but when a young performer “knocks one out of the park” as they say, it is simply electrifying. Her excellent collaborator, Hyun Soo Kim, deserves high praise as well.

First off, the recital gets high marks for programming. Ms. Cho demonstrated her commitment to living composers by featuring (along with well-loved works by Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, and Franz Waxman) solo works by Joan Tower (b. 1938) and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939) – both present to take a bow – as well as the formidable Sonata for Violin and Piano by John Corigliano (b. 1938). Mr. Corigliano may or may not have been present, but one hopes he will hear a recording of this duo’s sensational rendition of his work.

Fittingly, Ms. Cho opened her entire program with Joan Tower’s String Force, commissioned by the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis as the compulsory work for the sixteen semifinalists in their 2010 competition and dedicated to the contest’s director Jaime Laredo. It is an all-out exploration of the power of a single string instrument, sometimes reminiscent of Bach’s great D minor Chaconne in idiom but in an overall twentieth-century, sometimes Bartókian, language. It was a great introduction to this young violinist, who needs no accompaniment to keep her audience riveted – and needed no score either, a powerful statement of commitment that stands out from the usual.

Musicians often fall into niches, whether modern, “early”, neo-Romantic, etc., so somehow Ms. Cho’s program emphasis on contemporary composers did not prepare me for her exceptional Schumann performances that followed. One might peg her as a Romantic solely on the basis of them, if one had not just witnessed her mastery of much newer fare. First came the Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22 by Clara Schumann, played with devotion and beautifully sensitive phrasing. Next was Robert Schumann’s Sonata in D minor, Op. 121 (reviewed in another violinist’s recital less than two weeks ago), also superb. With the easy flow that is possible only when the technical elements have become effortless, the piece soared. Especially refreshing was Ms. Cho’s grasp of its sprawling shape and maintaining of momentum accordingly. The old saying, “If everything is important, nothing is important,” is key in interpreting this work, but Ms. Cho knew how to prioritize. One mishap with the violin (a peg slipping?) necessitated a complete halt to the first movement to retune, an unnerving occurrence at a debut, but both musicians appeared unfazed. Mr. Kim fared admirably, though one did want to feel more from him through much of the Schumann Sonata. For this listener there was occasionally too much the sound of “accompaniment” rather than full collaboration. This is not a matter of tonal balance, but more a matter of musical presence; that changed, however, as the evening progressed. Incidentally, the piano lid was up on the full stick – as I wish were more common occurrence – and it never overwhelmed the violin. Skillful pianists know how to cope with the full stick, and Mr. Kim is one of them.

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Fantasy for Solo Violin opened the second half. Another tour de force for the soloist, this work presents the full gamut technical challenges (like the Tower work) but has more of an extroverted “Americana” feel to it, with a freewheeling, fiddler’s feel at times. It suited Ms. Cho to a tee. As a side note, if one were not paying attention to its date of composition (2014), one might think one was reading the program notes twice, because this, like the Tower piece, was commissioned by the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis as the compulsory work for the sixteen semifinalists, and was also dedicated to Jaime Laredo, with the same sponsor. As Ms. Cho studied with Jaime Laredo (among other teachers) it seemed fitting to showcase both pieces, although it was very generous considering the demands on the violinist’s stamina. It was also played from memory.

Speaking of stamina, Ms. Cho’s was mind-boggling. The Corigliano Sonata followed. This Sonata is an established part of the violin repertoire by now, having been composed in 1963, but Cho’s energetic performance made it brand new for this listener. For full disclosure, to say I love this piece would be an understatement – I am completely smitten by it – but Ms. Cho captured its fire and lyricism especially wonderfully. Special kudos here must go to the pianist, Hyun Soo Kim, who was the partner extraordinaire, handling fistfuls of notes at lightning speed and dovetailing perfectly even through some devilishly tricky ensemble challenges.

One could have easily ended the recital here, but the showy Waxman Carmen Fantasie finished things off with a flourish. Calls of “brava” (including my own) were met with two Gershwin-Heifetz encores, “Summertime” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” Frankly, these seemed a bit rushed – I’d rather hear one played deliciously than two crammed in – but to avoid that special place in purgatory for nitpicking reviewers, one can chalk it up to the impatience of youth.

As a postscript, anyone in the music world could not miss the debates over “fairness” in the Indianapolis jury’s 2014 decision (an issue endemic to music contests, but well-addressed by this contest’s administration). Speaking only about the debut, what I heard showed preternatural gifts, phenomenal stamina, and passionate commitment; to possess all of these may indeed be unfair (apart from the hard work), but evidently the disgruntled will need to take their complaints up with a higher power. Seriously, one is thankful that Ms. Cho has risen above it all to do great things – may she rise farther!

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

Bargemusic Presents Masterworks Series: Vera Vaidman and Emanuel Krasovsky in Review

Vera Vaidman, Violin, and Emanuel Krasovsky, Piano

Bargemusic, Brooklyn, NY

May 29, 2016

Just one day after pianist Emanuel Krasovsky performed a demanding solo recital at Bargemusic, he performed again in collaboration with violinist Vera Vaidman in a program that might be called equally rigorous (if one could quantify artistic demands). One cannot measure such things, of course, but suffice it to say that the double-header weekend was a large undertaking for any musician.

As an explanatory note, there are those who might view the second program (the duo recital) as less demanding for the pianist compared to the solo piano program. Doesn’t the second recital become easier, one might ask, with the use of a printed score, and doesn’t another performer lighten one’s responsibility? Yes, regarding memory, but overall no. Each player gives ideally more than one hundred percent, so there is never any “break.” Furthermore, performing with a close associate can intensify one’s stress through sheer empathy. Lastly, in much of the repertoire performed in this particular recital, an enormous responsibility falls to the pianist, who takes on much of the harmonic, rhythmic, and dynamic foundation, the momentum, and frequently melodic roles as well. Therefore, despite showcasing the prodigious gifts of violinist Vera Vaidman, pupil of David Oistrakh and soloist of countless superb credentials, it was not “merely” a violin recital. Large works of Schumann and Fauré alternated with challenging ones of Mozart, and so playing them all on the heels of a large solo concert was indeed a formidable undertaking for Mr. Krasovsky.

The opening work on the Vaidman-Krasovsky program, Mozart’s Sonata in E-flat Major, K. 302, was a bright and brisk choice to open on and was well handled. Again, at the risk of sounding piano-centric, this listener has heard K. 302 (and other sonatas) played much too often by violinists completely enamored of their own tone during relative accompaniments, to the exclusion of everything in the piano part. This was thankfully not the case with the Vaidman-Krasovsky duo, but there were a few moments where it seemed the violin overwhelmed the piano in less than soloistic material. There was the right conversational fluency in tossing themes back and forth, but sometimes some tonal imbalances undercut the sense of a completely unified conception. Balance can be affected by anything from positioning onstage to venue, from the condition of respective instruments to how warmed up each player is. Mr. Krasovsky seemed rather comfortable from the outset – naturally enough, considering he had just finished his solo recital there hours earlier! – but he seemed to take a musical “back seat” a bit too often. Minor reservations aside, the duo gave a buoyant feeling overall to the Allegro opening movement, and the deeply moving Andante grazioso, one of this listener’s favorites, had a beautiful stately quality to it.

Schumann’s Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 121 occupied the rest of the first half. Possessing a soulfulness that belies its hasty composition in the sad late years of Schumann’s life, it is a tour de force for both players, and it found this duo in fine form. Ms. Vaidman came across as ideally suited to the impassioned repertoire of the Romantic period, and so it was good to hear her come into fuller and fuller bloom during this work and still more as the evening progressed. Incidentally in her biography it is mentioned that she recorded (and gave several premieres to) a violin version of Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B Minor, and so it is quite clear – regardless of what one thinks of such a transcription – that she is a fearless virtuosa!

The second half started with Mozart’s Variations in G minor on “Hélas, j’ai perdu mon amant” K. 360. It is a set of variations that David Oistrakh himself had performed, and it suited well Ms. Vaidman, who seems to share her late teacher’s virtues in matters of control and phrasing. There were momentary glitches ensemble-wise, but nothing that disrupted the worthy work that it is.

The bulk of the second half of the recital was devoted to Fauré’s Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13. An early work of the French composer, it is nonetheless a masterwork universally embraced (including by Fauré’s teacher Saint-Saëns), and it was in good hands on this occasion. Again, this listener wanted a bit more piano sound in the balance, as there seemed sometimes to be increasing intensity from the violin when one simply wanted more depths of texture; that said, Ms. Vaidman projected its long soaring lines well, with especially pure, sweet tones at peaks. The Allegro vivo was energetic and light, with exceptional staccato passagework from the pianist. A brilliant close from both players elicited hearty applause from a grateful audience, and a touching encore of Fauré’s Berceuse followed.

It was yet another rewarding concert at Bargemusic, an idyllic setting for such a concert on a Spring day. If the two concerts over the weekend were representative of the “Masterworks” series as a whole, then Bargemusic is offering cultural enrichment of great importance.

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

Bargemusic Presents Masterworks Series: Emanuel Krasovsky in Review

Bargemusic Presents Masterworks Series: Emanuel Krasovsky

Emanuel Krasovsky, Piano

Bargemusic, Brooklyn, NY

May 28, 2016

Emanuel Krasovsky is a Lithuanian-born Israeli pianist whom one might call a musician’s musician. He has established a following of experienced music-lovers and musicians, and in some ways their high expectation for something beyond mere pianistic thrills can amount to a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is not to say that his audiences do the work for him (clearly not possible), but that the bated breath of those awaiting his magic does help welcome the music in, as it did this past Saturday at Bargemusic. Not a peep was heard from his audience during long stretches of calm pianissimos. In repertoire that can tax the untutored or impatient listener, Mr. Krasovsky’s deeply thoughtful interpretations held his avid listeners rapt through Schubert’s sprawling Sonata in B-flat (D. 960), the same composer’s Drei Klavierstücke (D. 946), and the first book of the somewhat elusive cycle On the Overgrown Path (Book I, JW VIII/17) by the Czech composer Leoš Janáček (1854-1928).

Mr. Krasovsky started with Janáček, whose musical gold has been increasingly mined in recent decades after relative neglect. Ten movements of On the Overgrown Path, an emotionally demanding group, established Mr. Krasovsky as an artist. He drew his listeners in gently with “Our Evenings” which was projected with an especially beautiful singing tone and flexibility of phrase. This listener found his style quite moving, as with the greats of the twentieth century as heard over a lifetime. All of the remaining nine movements measured up in terms of expressiveness, from the childlike innocence of “A Blown Away Leaf” and “Come with us!” to the mystical frissons of “The Madonna of Frydek” and frenetic energy of “They Chattered like Swallows.” Not even the occasional horn blast of boats could disrupt the spell (ah, the uniqueness of the floating concert hall!).

Janáček, as well as being a folklorist, was a colorist of a subtlety that still sometimes eludes pianists and listeners alike a century later. What impressed one especially about Mr. Krasovsky was his sensitivity to shading and his warmly balanced voicing, where there was always something new emerging from the musical textures. Some of Janáček’s folk-like (and hymn-like) writing can be treated in a two-dimensional way, but Mr. Krasovsky consistently plumbed the depths. Even in the cryptic closing piece, “The Barn Owl Has Not Flown Away,” he answered the tonal and emotional ambiguity with the inspired decision to follow directly into Schubert. The ensuing Drei Klavierstücke (D. 946), among the last compositions Schubert wrote (only published decades later by Brahms), were a perfect choice. Schubert’s overall symmetry and clarity made a perfect exit from the “overgrown path” and yet the kindred elements between Schubert and Janáček were also implicit. A program by pianist Jeremy Denk in recent years made a similar connection between Schubert and Janáček –– but this segue was striking in its own unique way.

If the title Drei Klavierstücke (not a title by Schubert himself) brings to mind some random miniatures, think again. Collectively longer than many of the same composer’s Sonatas (around twenty-five minutes), these three late pieces (written just months before the composer’s death) are large in scope, emotion, and pianistic challenges – sometimes akin to those of Schubert’s notoriously difficult Wanderer Fantasy. Mr. Krasovsky handled the challenges with expertise. Only occasionally did one notice a loss of tonal control as the technical demands mounted, but one headed to intermission musically fulfilled and with a sense of admiration for the pianist.

After intermission came Schubert’s great B-flat Sonata, again among the composer’s last works. This monumental first movement happened to coincide with the more active river tides, but despite some rocking of the barge the pianist kept things on an even keel (no pun intended). The divine slow movement had just the right tempo for this listener’s liking. Such slow pacing does invite some occasional glitches – but they are nearly negligible in such cases of inspired artistry. What was less negligible was some roughness in the third and fourth movements, not merely note-wise but in tone. As passages grow more challenging some sacrifices to tone quality may be inevitable – but one ideally wants as much care and attention to tone in rapid octave jumps as in tender sostenuto melodies. Mr. Krasovsky’s own playing sets a high bar, so this listener may be forgiven for wanting a level of polish that may be unrealistic in live performance!

As well as being a fine pianist with excellent credentials, Mr. Krasovsky has been a respected and beloved pedagogue for decades. Currently head of the piano department at Tel-Aviv University, he has also been a writer of articles on various musical subjects, a presenter of master classes, and a juror for many international competitions. It is not common, while wearing so many hats, to pull off such a hugely demanding solo recital, but the good news is that Mr. Krasovsky did just that with remarkable success. All in all, the evening was a musical revelation, and this listener will be back! Bravo!

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

The Consulate General of Argentina Presents Rosa Antonelli, Pianist in Review

Rosa Antonelli, Pianist: Alberto Ginastera Centennial Gala

The Consulate General of Argentina, New York, NY

May 18, 2016

The centennial of the birth of Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) is no small occasion for the music world. It is fittingly capturing the attention of musicians and audiences worldwide in various ways, but in New York this past week, it was celebrated at the Consulate General of Argentina, in a recital by Argentine pianist Rosa Antonelli.

Ms. Antonelli’s performances, as listed in her biography, have taken her to distinguished venues across the globe, in many countries throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America, and frequently under sponsorship by government organizations. Her lovely, gracious demeanor and sense of commitment to her country’s music make her a natural for such a diplomatic venue.

Several dignitaries spoke addressing the occasion, but the most memorable speaker by far was the composer’s daughter, Georgina Ginastera, who spoke of her father’s note-by-note perfectionism, his sense of musical architecture, and the kinship between the Argentine landscape and the tonal evocations of the pampas, the desert, the oceans, the hot midday sun, and vibrant native malambo dancing. She also spoke of his free approach to teaching and how, when he was guiding Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), also represented on the program, her father urged him to follow his natural inclinations, saying, “if you like tangos, write tangos.” We know from historic records that Nadia Boulanger had similar advice to Piazzolla, who grew restless with his native voice and sought more sophisticated genres, but a large debt of gratitude there clearly goes to Alberto Ginastera.

To start the music, Ms. Antonelli played Ginastera’s exquisite Idilio Crepuscular (“Romance at Twilight” from the ballet Estancia). With generous pedaling aiding the dreamy atmosphere, it started the evening with music of a love story – as Ms. Antonelli explained, “like Romeo and Juliet, but with a happy ending.” More of Ms. Antonelli’s gentle approach brought out the poignancy of the slow Triste and Vidala from the 12 Preludios Americanos. Homenaje a Roberto Garcia Morillo (also from the Preludios) kicked things up a notch, though with more restraint than one hears generally. The ending, notated as a ferocious fff, seemed a bit tame for this listener – whether this was out of concern for the stunning Steinway at hand or for the elegant milieu one could only guess, but it raised concern for the how the rest of the evening would go on with music by a composer of such uncompromising, sometimes savage, vibrancy and frankness.

Back to the lyricism, the program proceeded with Rondo Sobre Temas Infantiles, a nostalgic piece dedicated to Ginastera’s children and similar in language to some of the Villa-Lobos Prole do Bebê. It was played with sensitivity and charm. Three more selections from the Preludios Americanos followed, the gentle Pastoral, nicely shaded, the quiet tango-like Homenaje a Juan Jose Castro, also well rendered, and the rustic Danza Criolla, given an energetic reading.

Four Tangos by Astor Piazzolla followed and seemed a fitting tribute to Ginastera the teacher, who encouraged his composition students to follow their hearts. First came El Mundo de Los Dos, and it was preceded by a reading of melancholy lyrics written for it by Albino Gomez, writer, journalist, and Argentine diplomat. It was given a heartfelt musical interpretation by Ms. Antonelli, who brought out its desolation.

Three more famous tangos followed, including two from the Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (“Four Seasons of Buenos Aires”), Verano Porteño (summer) and Invierno Porteño (winter), in addition to the effusive Libertango. All three of these have found their way into the concert hall in all manner of arrangements, some recapturing the original bandoneón ensemble and others branching out into cello duos, string quartets, orchestral versions, and more. Piano alone by comparison can seem lacking in color if one does not pull off some technical and tonal miracles, or at least vary the texture and dynamics in strategic ways. Stretches of repeating bass patterns under expansive melodies that in more sustaining instruments are atmospheric and seductive (as tangos invite), can sound arid and grey in solo piano versions. To Ms. Antonelli’s credit, the powerful undercurrent of tango rhythm was rarely sacrificed – a challenge in the Libertango where distribution of hands is awkward – yet one still longed for more of the focal melody. Verano Porteño experienced some rough spots, but overall the pianist acquitted herself well.

The program returned to music of Ginastera to close, the Danza del Trigo (“Wheat Dance” from Estancia) and Tres Danzas Argentinas. These were high points, showcasing Ms. Antonelli’s lyrical expressiveness at its best. Incidentally, the Danza del Trigo struck this listener for the first time as having a strong kinship melodically with the second of the Danzas Argentinas, the Danza de la Moza Donosa, a longtime favorite. The pairing of the two together offered a glimpse into the musical soul of Ginastera – for which Ms. Antonelli is to be thanked. Both were played with real tenderness and were worth the trip by themselves.

Danza del Viejo Boyero and the Danza del Gaucho Matrero, more typically motoric fare, offered a balance. One was surprised by the quantity of pedal in the Gaucho Matrero and also wanted a bit more “oomph” in sections (the subject being cowboys, after all), but these were just a few reservations in what was an effective close to the recital.

All in all, it was a successful evening of tribute. Happy Anniversary, Ginastera!

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

Transcendental Taverner: Clarion at the Met in Review

Transcendental Taverner: Clarion at the Met

The Clarion Choir, Steven Fox, Artistic Director

Medieval Sculpture Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York NY

April 29, 2016

As part of the MetLiveArts series of performances, a most amazing evening of music took place last Friday. Entitled “Transcendental Taverner,” it truly lived up to its name in what was one of the most mesmerizing a cappella concerts this reviewer has ever heard.

Founded ten years ago by the young but precociously well-credentialed conductor Steven Fox, the Clarion Choir began as a complement to the Clarion Orchestra, a period instrument ensemble also directed by Maestro Fox. The Clarion Choir, open to a wide range of musical eras beyond the Renaissance and Baroque periods, has performed works by Rachmaninoff and Mozart, as well as works from earlier periods; it seemed, however, ideally suited to the beautiful translucent counterpoint of English composer John Taverner (c. 1490-1545). Also ideal was the setting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Medieval Sculpture Hall, with stone and marble architecture that allowed the reverberating voices to soar magnificently.

Steven Fox , Photo credit: Kim Fox

The entire program (except for a finale of John Sheppard’s Communio: In Pace) was devoted to Taverner’s Missa Gloria Tibi Trinitas, a mass with central setting of the Latin Easter text, Dum Transisset describing the discovery of the empty sepulchre of Jesus Christ. It is a sublime work, with vocal writing that captures the spiritual transcendence of the subject matter through its movingly melismatic lines. The purity and balance of Clarion’s perfectly selected voices was simply breathtaking. If anyone could be unmoved by such a masterpiece, whatever one’s religious persuasion might be, he should have his pulse checked.

The driving force, of course, was Maestro Fox, who directed with visible passion and energy. One would be hard pressed to find a conductor with more commitment to his repertoire or connection to each note from his choir. The results spoke for themselves.

At times Maestro Fox’s extreme physicality contrasted with the serenity of the melodic lines – almost distractingly – but then again, one is always free to close one’s eyes and drift into the stratosphere with the vocal lines. The fact is that, without the constant and pulsating rhythmic underpinning that the conductor projected, the urge for each line to soar at its own self-indulgent rate could be overpowering to a group already swimming in reverberations, a potential threat to the togetherness of the ensemble. Maestro Fox held the counterpoint together masterfully, with the long-breathed lines still projecting gloriously. His awareness of the special acoustics was clear, and his pacing between movements was accordingly sensitive and generous.

The choir had clearly been prepared well in matters of intonation and balance. Several soloists also were simply phenomenal, but without individual attribution on the program one sadly cannot identify their respective highlights in order to credit them. We know that amid eighteen singers (who shifted places at times), the soloists were Sarah Brailey, Molly Netter, and Sherezade Pantheki, sopranos; Marc Day, Andrew Fuchs, and Timothy Hodges, Tenors; and bass, Craig Philips. All were excellent, with the sopranos standing out as particularly stellar.

One minor reservation arises, which is that, while the diction seemed fine among the choir as a whole, given the extremely reverberant acoustics (and the Latin text), the lay audience member may have not been able to follow exactly where he was in the mass without clearer listings in the program booklet (the Offertorium having been switched to be after the Benedictus, according to the notes but not in the program proper). It seems nitpicky, because one could simply enjoy, as did the ticketless museumgoers who drifted along the periphery of the hall to the ambient magic; the ticket price for the actual seated audience though, comes with a presumption of more than average interest in understanding or experiencing each moment to the fullest, rather than simply being steeped in the sounds, glorious though they were.

Minor program quibbles aside, the Clarion Choir’s performance was music-making by an ensemble of the highest echelon. Of special note will be their imminent release on the Naxos label of the recently discovered Passion Week by Maximilian Steinberg, a fascinating work, which they will surely perform to the hilt.

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

Şahan Arzruni, Pianist in Review

The Fund for Armenian Relief Presents: Together for Armenia

A Benefit Concert for the Vanadzor Old Age Home

Şahan Arzruni, Piano, with Adam Rosenblatt, Percussion, and Simon Hagopian-Rogers, Violin

Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Music Center, New York, NY

April 5, 2016

Those who say all piano recitals are alike these days have certainly not heard Şahan Arzruni, at least not his most recent New York recital to benefit a senior’s home in Armenia. One would be hard pressed to find duplication of such an evening anywhere – from the unusual Armenian repertoire to the scholarly, often humorous, commentary which made the evening almost more lecture-recital than recital.

Mr. Arzruni is a passionate Armenian pianist who has dedicated much of his extensive concertizing to promoting cultural awareness of Armenian music and benefitting Armenian charities. He is a persuasive advocate, and one left the hall marveling that this body of repertoire has remained still so largely untapped.

The concert opened with a short piece by Arno Babadjanian (1921-1983), the composer’s doleful Elegy (after Sayat Nova), inspired in 1978 by grief over the death of Armenian composer, Aram Khachaturian. It is an accessible, heart-on-sleeve piece, with some of its brooding harmonies reminiscent of Tango composer Astor Piazzolla (and if that seems a stretch from Armenia to Argentina, it isn’t – Babadjanian did actually compose a beautiful Tango himself and the two musical traditions have had interesting cross-pollination).

The next work was a set entitled Yenovk (in honor of the artist Yenovk der Hagopian) by Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000). Hovhaness was known as an eclectic American composer who delighted in many cultures, but he particularly treasured his Armenian heritage on his father’s side. He was extremely prolific, so maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that we still have not exhausted possible premieres of his works sixteen years after his death, but it was still exciting to hear Mr. Arzruni, who also performed the World Premiere of Yenovk in California in this complete version, now giving the set its New York Premiere. The six movements opened with a Fantasy, rather mesmerizing as a chant projected through repeated notes, and followed with Canzona I, Jhala, Canzona II, Ballata, and Fugue. The set combined folk elements of drone basses, stark unaccompanied solo lines, tremolando effects, and dervish-like frenzies that transported one to an exotic terrain far from Manhattan. Occasionally the journey was interrupted by what seemed some unevenness in the hall piano (which does become a distracting problem with all the balalaika-type repeated notes), but Mr. Arzruni held it all together with impressive command and passionate commitment.

Also by Hovhaness were the Five Invocations to Vahakn (New York Premiere) with Mr. Arzruni joined by percussionist Adam Rosenblatt, who played drums, gongs, cymbals, a thunder sheet, and a conch shell (a fittingly noisy assemblage for Vahakn, god of fire and war). Mr. Arzruni elicited laughter as he gestured to the instruments asking, “what is that?” – an assortment to wake up the most jaded audience – but all comedy aside, these were colorful and dramatic pieces.

Even more remarkable chronologically than the Hovhaness premieres was the World Premiere of music by Kristapor Kara-Mourza (1853-1902), his Potpourri on Armenian Songs (1872). Valuable from a musicological perspective perhaps more than musical, this work of Kara-Mourza was some of the first Armenian music notated for piano. True to a disclaimer by Mr. Arzruni that it is “a piece of kitsch,” it was replete with “urban folk” tunes of an adulterated sort. The medley was nonetheless fascinating in the context of the rest of the program, an important piece of the historic picture.

After Intermission came music by a far more famous Armenian composer, Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978). His Chant-Poème was given a beautiful performance by eleven-year-old violinist Simon Hagopian-Rogers, accompanied by Mr. Arzruni at the piano. One expects prodigies today to dazzle with technical facility, but what was impressive here was the young performer’s grasp of the rhapsodic feeling of the piece. Already performing internationally, this violinist will certainly be a young artist to watch.

With a child performer, exotic instruments, and some comedic touches thrown in, Mr. Arzruni was ready for even the most attention-deficit audience – and yet they were all just the right counterbalance to his serious and detailed scholarship. Exemplifying that scholarship, and of greatest weight on the program, were Khachaturian’s Recitatives and Fugues (World Premiere as a complete set). In 1968 Khachaturian added recitatives to seven fugues he had composed in his younger days and had rediscovered decades later. Similar in format to Preludes and Fugues by any number of composers, the resulting set is a valuable addition to Khatchaturian’s body of piano works. At twenty-five minutes in duration and rather cerebral listening at times, they demand much from an audience, but one couldn’t help observing that Mr. Arzruni had drawn a particularly attentive audience. The pieces reflected some influence of Shostakovich (especially in the giocoso sections, as in number 3), some of Bach (naturally), and even of Rachmaninoff (more in the Recitative sections, especially in number 2), but these works stand on their own and warrant further playing. Mr. Arzruni is to be congratulated for pulling off this very demanding achievement.

To cap off the program Mr. Arzruni fittingly presented Armenian Dances by Komitas (1869-1935), often regarded as the father of Armenian music. These are what Mr. Arzruni called “re-creations” (not compositions exactly, but not arrangements), and they included Yeranki (from Yerevan), Hed ou Arach (from Garin), and Shoror (from Moush). They closed the program with an affirmation of Armenian music’s roots, eliciting an encore of the Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, No. 2 by Chopin, an honorary Armenian for the evening. A grateful audience will surely return for more.

by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY