Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto - Grace Park

OK............ this was/is my favorite !




David Loebel, Associate Director of Orchestras, conducts the New England Conservatory Philharmonia and violinist Grace Park in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. Park ('12 M.M.) was the winner of the NEC violin concerto competition.

Jordan Hall ...Biography

This is were I've been spending much of my time since about February 2012.

New England Conservatory Biography

Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader among music schools, New England Conservatory offers rigorous training in an intimate, nurturing community to 750 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral music students from around the world. Its faculty of 225 boasts internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. Its alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios, and arts management positions worldwide. Nearly half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is composed of NEC trained musicians and faculty.

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The oldest independent school of music in the United States, NEC was founded in 1867 by Eben Tourjee. Its curriculum is remarkable for its wide range of styles and traditions. On the college level, it features training in classical, jazz, Contemporary Improvisation, world and early music. Through its Preparatory School, School of Continuing Education, and Community Collaboration Programs, it provides training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, adults, and seniors. Through its outreach projects, it allows young musicians to engage with non-traditional audiences in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes—thereby bringing pleasure to new listeners and enlarging the universe for classical music and jazz.

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NEC presents more than 600 free concerts each year, many of them in Jordan Hall, its world- renowned, 100-year old, beautifully restored concert hall. These programs range from solo recitals to chamber music to orchestral programs to jazz and opera scenes. Every year, NEC’s opera studies department

also presents two fully staged opera productions at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.

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NEC is co-founder and educational partner of “From the Top,” a weekly radio program that celebrates outstanding young classical musicians from the entire country. With its broadcast home in Jordan Hall, the show is now carried by National Public Radio and is heard on 250 stations throughout the United States.

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NEC Spring Concert Series Finale

****

This evening's conductor-less

NEC Chamber Orchestra

wraps up the spring season with works by:

 Mozart, Handel, & Walton. 

****

The program featured two outstanding string players,

violinist

Grace Park

and

violist

Wenting Kang

* 

who, as winners of NEC concerto competitions,

performed as soloists in Mozart's Sinfonia concertante.

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The NEC chamber orchestra is a real treat - smaller than a full orchestra, but larger than a chamber group, and the fact that they have no conductor works to their advantage, as the musicians seem much more relaxed and they really have to listen to each other.  The pieces played are usually of a 'call and response', in that the different instruments have a conversation through the music.

**

This evenings program:

George Frederic Handel (1685-1759)

Concerto grosso in F Major, Op. 6 No. 2

**

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Sinfonia concertante in E-flat major, K. 364

**

Grace Park, violin

Wenting Kang, viola

**

William Walton (1902-1983)

Sonata for Strings

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The evening performances were wonderful, throughout the entire 'season' ! The performers/students it's hard to believe, did an outstanding job.  They ARE the next masters you will be seeing on stages with great symphonies around the world!

My all time favorite 'experience' without a doubt was the evening of the

Brass Bash !

listen here for a truly fabulous musical experience. 

NEC Brass Bash 2012 - InstantEncore

See you next year !

NEC Philharmonia

New England Conservatory

**** 

Hugh Wolff, conductor

Hugh Wolff joined the NEC faculty in 2008,
 and has conducted a loage share of NEC's orchestral
 concerts for the past two seasons.  In 2009,
he began teaching graduate students
admitted to an elite training program for orchestral conductors 

Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood Director of Orchestras

with

Christine Lamprea, cello

A 2012 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow, cellist
Christine Lamprea, is a graduate of the Julliard School,
 and is now pursuing a master's degree at NEC.
A sought after chamber musician,
she is an equally accomplished orchestral player.
Lamprea is on the substitute roster for the
 San Antonio Symphony,
and was Principal Cellist of the Julliard Orchestra
from 2009-2011
Christine plays on a 1770 Benjamin Banks Cello,
 generously loaned to her by
 Nicholas Fenning and Carol Faris. 

Winner of the 2011 - 2012 Lower String Concerto Competition

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Program

*

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Une barque sur l`ocen

*

Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Concerto for Cello, Op. 22

Allegro moderato

Andante sostenuto

Molto allegro ed appassionato

*

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

Allegro non troppo

Adagio non troppo

Allegretto grazioso

Allegro con spirito

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Upcoming Orchestral Concerts at NEC

*****************

NEC Chanber Orchestra, Donald Palma, artistic director

Mozart Sinfonia concertante, K. 364

Grace Park, violn ~*~Wenting Kang, viola

Walton Sonata for Strings

Handel Concerto grosso No. 2 F major, Op. 6

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 8PM, Jordan Hall.

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Don't Miss Out !







New England Conservatory -- again ! :)

April 17th, 2012 

*

NEC Jordan Winds

*

William Drury, conductor

with

Erica J. Washburn, mezzo-soprano

Erica Washburn, mezzo-soprano is NEC's newly appointed Director of Choral Activities.

***

NEC Winds Ensemble

***

Charles Peltz, conductor

with

Joshua Baker, bassoon

 * Winner, NEC Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition *

Joshua Baker is a bassoon student at New England Conservatory. Originally from Boise, Idaho, Josh moved to Boston to pursue a music performance degree and has performed with numerous ensembles in the Boston area.  As an active chamber musician, Joshua will be playing in the New England Conservatory Chamber Music Gala this May with his wind quintet.   Last summer, Mr. Baker was accepted into the Music Academy of the West, and will be attending the Sarasota Music Festival this upcoming summer.
~~~ *** ~~~
  This was Mr. Baker's first solo performance at New England Conservatory.

Bravo --- > Joshua !!

A Walk In The Park

After Enjoying
Broadway in Boston --- >  RIVERDANCE, 

at the Boston Opera House,

then dinner at

 Max and Dylans

                         (15 West Street Boston)

.

.
.
.
.
.
.  a leisurely walk through the
Boston Common

and the

Public Garden

       was the perfect dessert.

Having a great day !

RIVERDANCE

*  Riverdance  *

... at the Boston Opera House.

  My feet hurt just from watching these amazingly talented young performers do their 'thing' !

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After 16 years, the North American tour will be coming to a close this June and will move on to tour other continents.  This is the eighth stop in Boston on this record-breaking tour.  

Boston, home to the highest percentage of Irish Americans in the United States has always loved

RIVERDANCE.

The final Boston engagement for this amazing show that introduced the world to Irish dance is a must see !

Truly a world-wide hit, since becoming an international phenomenon in 1996, Riverdance has now been seen live by more than 22 million people in over 40 countries and played to a worldwide television audience of more than 2 billion people!

                                                                                       Many of the Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe are World Champion Dancers.  

The troupe hails mostly from Ireland, but also from Great Britain, the United States and Australia. Between them, the dancers can boast of literally hundreds of championships won in Ireland and abroad. Most started dancing at 3 or 4 years of age at local dance schools and progressed to World Championship level before being chosen to perform in Riverdance.   The dancers wold have known and competed against each other at various competitions, including the World Championships. 

Riverdance has given them the opportunity to perform together for the first time in a non-competitive way.  The grace and eloquence of their soft-shoe dance, the power and precision of their hard shoe routines clearly display the endless hours of practice and their dedication to the art of Irish Dance.

* ~~~~~ * ~~~~~ *

The 2011 - 2012 season        at The Boston Opera House!

After an extensive multi-million dollar restoration, Boston's landmark Opera House has re-emerged, after being shuttered for over a decade, as New England's finest and most historically significant performing arts venue.  

Designed in the Beaux Arts manner by Thomas W. Lamb, one of the foremost theatre architects of his day, its white terra cotta Beaux Art facade presents one of the finest examples of architectural terra cotta in Boston and the elaborate French Baroque interior is remarkably intact.  Floor-to-ceiling detaining adorns the magnificent auditorium, two-story lobby, and grand staircase, rich in marble, brass tracery, gold leaf, decorative plaster, wall murals and mirrors. 

The building itself  IS a work of Art, so look around and take it all in when YOU visit

The Boston Opera House ! 



'Meetup' to Dine OUT ...

Meetup with friends to ....D I N E  out.........
....................................................no better place than at Chez Pascal.

April brings this  Meetup group of dining out 'foodies' to

 the inviting French Bistro

ChezPacal

http://chez-pascal.com

*

Matthew and Kristin Gennuso

are the owners of

Chez Pascal,

a cozy, neighborhood restaurant located in the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island.

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MY dinner 'out' started off with a martini at the bar.

(what else!)

A pleasant beginning to a relaxing evening with friends.

*

I began my dinner 'event' with THE Appetizer...

*

Escargots à la Bourguignonne with Warm Garlic &
Parsley Scented Brioche

A traditional escargot baked with garlic,

parsley and pernod buutter.

YUM... YUM...YUM !

Followed with

(another Martini)

then

the

'to die for'

Seared Bomster Sea Scallops with Local Rye Berries,
Red Bliss Potatoes and Sherry Braised Green Cabbage Gateau & Wild Fennel Pollen Vinaigrette

The menus follow closely in the French tradition with an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients whenever possible.

If you have never been before, Chez Pascal IS the dining out experience that features all that each season has to offer through the carefully selected menus.  The charm of the dining room, the comforting ease of the staff, and the enticing combination of flavors and aromas will make your visit to Chez Pascal the first of many. 

~~~~ *** ~~~~

I know I'll be back, will you  !

New England Conservatory Symphony ~ FUN ~

~****~

DAVID  LOEBEL,
conductor

with 

ANDRE`S LOPERA

conductor

*

Colombian young conductor Andres Lopera is recognized for his musical depth, enthusiasm, energy, and communication skills.  Lopera infuses the orchestra and audience with passion for music, making it come to life during the performance.  His goal is to bring genius of classical composters to contemporary audiences in a way that speaks to their modern sensibilities.

*

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The Evening Program:

Andre`s Lopera,

conductor 

*

Egmont Overture, Op.  84

Ludwig van Beethoven

(1770-1827)

*

Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy

Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky

(1840-1893)

*

*

Second 1/2 of the Program

*

*

David Loebel,

conductor



Variations on a Theme by Hindemith

William Walton

 (1902-1983)

*

Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34

Benjamin Britten

(1913-1976)

(Variations and fugue on a Theme of Purcell)

NEC ~~~~ BRASS BASH ~~~~~

New England Conswrvatory brass students

perform with their Boston Symphony Orchestra teachers.

*

Founded by NEC brass and percussion chair Frank Epstein,
Brass Bash puts the spotlight on current and former Boston Symphony Orchestra members who teach at NEC,
along with their students.

This year's featured guest soloist and clinician will be

Michael Sachs,

 Principal trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~The Program included ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Benjamin Britten: (1913-1976)
Fanfare for St. Edmundsbury
*
Off to a great beginning !

Michael Sachs, Thomas Rolfs, Benjamin Wright, trumpets.

Franz Joseph Haydin: (1732-1809)
Concerto in E-flat Major
*
Great collaboration of musical talent ! 

Michael Sachs, trumpet, Deborah Emery, piano

Johann Ernst Altenburg: (1734-1801)
Concerto for Seven trumpets and timpani
*
Awesome !

Michael Sachs, Tom Rolfs, Benjamin Wright, Thomas Siders, Michael Martin, Steve Emery, Matthew Ebisuzaki,
trumpets and timpani.

Maurice Ravel: (1875-1937) Bolero
arr. Doug Wauchope

(This was THE best part of the entire concert!)
*WOW*

 ~~~~~* ~~~~~

Charles Schlueter:

 conductor

 

* We all had a great time !  Dinner before the show, cocktails after the show   = VERY   *  NICE