Violin Channel: Julian Schwarz – 'Considerations for Preparing the Rococo Variations'
In a VC exclusive guest blog, American cellist Julian Schwarz shares his top considerations for preparing Tchaikovsky's 'Variations on a Rococo Theme'
Violin Channel
The Violin Channel recently caught up with former Schoenfeld International Cello Competition and the Boulder International Art of Duo Chamber Music Competition 1st prize winner, American cello virtuoso Julian Schwarz.
In a VC exclusive guest blog, the 27-year-old soloist shares his top considerations for preparing Tchaikovsky’s virtuosic ‘Variations on a Rococo Theme’.
“Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme Op. 33 is a balletic minefield for cello and orchestra. A minefield because of the various technical challenges that seem to pop up in the most inconvenient places, and balletic because of the work’s natural kinship with Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet scores. Just as traditional ballets include ‘variations’ for each lead role to showcase his/her most impressive leaps, twirls, and flourishes, the Rococo does the same, with the cellist playing almost every role!”
Read more of Julian’s considerations here.
Cellist Julian Schwarz performing the Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations with Camerata Chicago conducted by Drostan Hall on 29 April, 2016 at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago.
Blogcritics: Marc-André Hamelin at Carnegie Hall Review
Marc-André Hamelin opened his Carnegie Hall program with a sober and thoughtful performance. His approach showed an awareness that the music needs no excess. All the magnificence is there in the score.
Blogcritics
Jon Sobel
Marc-André Hamelin opened his Carnegie Hall program with a sober and thoughtful performance. His approach showed an awareness that the music needs no excess. All the magnificence is there in the score…Halfway through, I had tears in my eyes.
Read more here.
Meet the Artist: Julian Schwarz
On October 12th, The Cross-Eyed Pianist sat down with cellist Julian Schwartz to speak about his inspirations, influences and challenges as an artist.
On October 12th, The Cross-Eyed Pianist sat down with cellist Julian Schwartz to speak about his inspirations, influences and challenges as an artist. To read the interview, click here.
San Francisco Classical Voice: Taiwan Philharmonic Offers A Fresh Perspective on Orchestral Music
How different the same hall feels with another orchestra onstage. For starters, at Monday’s Taiwan Philharmonic concert, women not only outnumbered men — they were extraordinarily well-represented even in the sections (double bass, brass, and especially, leadership positions) that remain male-dominated in this country’s orchestras. There was no concertmaster entrance; in fact, the orchestra entered the Davies stage en masse. And the applause, after every movement, didn’t feel wrong.
San Francisco Classical Voice
Rebecca Wishnia
How different the same hall feels with another orchestra onstage. For starters, at Monday’s Taiwan Philharmonic concert, women not only outnumbered men — they were extraordinarily well-represented even in the sections (double bass, brass, and especially, leadership positions) that remain male-dominated in this country’s orchestras. There was no concertmaster entrance; in fact, the orchestra entered the Davies stage en masse. And the applause, after every movement, didn’t feel wrong.
To read more, click here.
In honor of Veteran’s Day Weekend, All-Star Orchestra kicks off collaboration with U.S. Marine Band
A unique collaboration: the All-Star Orchestra’s Gerard Schwarz conducts the U.S. Marine Band – America’s oldest continually performing musical ensemble – founded by an act of Congress in 1798, and dubbed “The President’s Own” by no less than Thomas Jefferson. Three programs feature the most famous concert band masterpieces, including works by Gustav Holst, Percy Grainger, William Schuman, and of course John Philip Sousa.
A unique collaboration: the All-Star Orchestra’s Gerard Schwarz conducts the U.S. Marine Band – America’s oldest continually performing musical ensemble – founded by an act of Congress in 1798, and dubbed “The President’s Own” by no less than Thomas Jefferson. Three programs feature the most famous concert band masterpieces, including works by Gustav Holst, Percy Grainger, William Schuman, and of course John Philip Sousa.
Schedule for WNET Thirteen – Saturdays at 1:00 pm
November 10 Above and Beyond
The beloved folk melodies and lively dances of Grainger’s “Lincolnshire Posy” start off the program. A fascinating history of the 229-year-old U.S. Marine Band leads into Maestro Schwarz’ own “Above and Beyond” – dedicated to the Marine Band. Next comes Pulitzer Prize-winner Jennifer Higdon’s thrilling “Fanfare Ritmico.” Sousa’s “Semper Fidelis” March – conducted by the Director of the U.S. Marine Band, Colonel Jason K. Fettig, brings this first episode to a rousing conclusion.
November 17 New England Spirit
Revolutionary War melodies provide the inspiration for William Schuman’s iconic “New England Triptych,” including the moving meditation “When Jesus Wept” and the thrilling “Chester” as performed at several Presidential inaugurations. Next, Vincent Persichetti’s colorful “Masquerade” shows off the Band’s amazing virtuosity. The program concludes with Sousa’s immortal “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
November 24 Classic Band Masterpieces
The First Suite by Gustav Holst (famous composer of “The Planets”) is an early masterpiece in the concert band repertoire, paired here with the first complete Symphony for Band by the great Paul Hindemith. The splendor of Chinese percussion in Bright Sheng’s “Shanghai Overture” brings the series to a spectacular finale.
About Gerard Schwarz
Internationally recognized for his moving performances, innovative programming and extensive catalogue of recordings, American conductor Gerard Schwarz serves as Music Director of the All-Star Orchestra, an ensemble of top musicians from America’s leading orchestras featured in sixteen television programs that have aired throughout the United States on public television, worldwide by internet streaming and is the basis for their Khan Academy education platform that has already reached over 6 million students. As in popular sports, Schwarz created an “all-star” team of top orchestra musicians to encourage a greater understanding and enjoyment of classical music. All programs are now released by Naxos and have been awarded six Emmy Awards and the Deems Taylor Television Broadcast Award from ASCAP. Schwarz is also Music Director of the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina where he celebrated his 10th Anniversary season in the summer of 2017, Music Director of the Mozart Orchestra of New York, Conductor Emeritus of the Mostly Mozart Festival and Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony. The conductor is a renowned interpreter of 19th century German, Austrian and Russian repertoire, in addition to his noted work with contemporary American composers.
For more information on Gerard Schwarz, please visit: https://www.gerardschwarz.com
For more information on All Star Orchestra, please visit: http://allstarorchestra.org
Trailer: https://youtu.be/PmZJp4wIMAI
The New York Times: Marc-André Hamelin
The New York Times lists Marc-André Hamelin’s Carnegie Hall recital on November 15 in its guide to the city’s best classical music and opera happening this weekend and in the week ahead.
The New York Times
David Allen
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN at Carnegie Hall (Nov. 15, 8 p.m.). There’s a blend of core repertoire and pieces found far from the beaten path in this supreme pianist’s Carnegie recital this season, with Schumann’s Fantasy in C, Bach’s Chaconne in Busoni’s reworking, and two pieces by Chopin nestled alongside Alexis Weissenberg’s “Six Arrangements of Songs Sung by Charles Trénet” and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s “Cypresses.”
212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org
Read the full article, 8 Classical Music Concerts to See in N.Y.C. This Weekend, here.
OperaWire: The Beijing Music Festival As A Microcosm For The Great Chinese City
The Beijing Music Festival is celebrating its 21st anniversary by bringing a diverse array of repertoire intent on exploring its innovative and boundary-crossing initiatives.
OperaWire
Francisco Salazar
The Beijing Music Festival is celebrating its 21st anniversary by bringing a diverse array of repertoire intent on exploring its innovative and boundary-crossing initiatives.
This year alone, the festival is showcasing a half-dozen diverse works of music drama and theatre.
Read more here.
Classical Post: Olga Kern's Life On And Offstage
Like so many key figures of classical music history (Bach, Mozart, and the Schumanns, to name a few), music is in Olga Kern’s blood. Coming from a family of musicians and a childhood filled with music, Olga could not imagine her life any other way, and sees it remaining the same even ten years from now - with all roads leading back to the piano.
Classical Post
Like so many key figures of classical music history (Bach, Mozart, and the Schumanns, to name a few), music is in Olga Kern’s blood. Coming from a family of musicians and a childhood filled with music, Olga could not imagine her life any other way, and sees it remaining the same even ten years from now - with all roads leading back to the piano. Olga opens up about this and other facets of her life, including fostering music education through her foundation Aspiration, motherhood, and painting nature to further inspire her music making.
Read Olga’s interview with Classical Post here.
Seattle Times: Best bets for classical music in Seattle this fall
Taiwan Philharmonic and Marc-André Hamelin’s Meany Hall performances make Seattle Times’s “Best Bets for Classical Music in Seattle This Fall” list.
Seattle Times
Melinda Bargreen
President’s Piano Series presents Marc-André Hamelin: The multitalented virtuoso pianist was not only a juror at last year’s Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, he also composed a challenging toccata played by all 30 of the competitors.
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, Meany Theater at the University of Washington, Seattle
Taiwan Philharmonic with pianist Stephen Hough: This touring orchestra makes its Seattle debut in the acoustically warm Meany Theater with Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 and the “Dancing Song” (from “Three Aboriginal Songs for Orchestra”) of Taiwanese composer Gordon Chin.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, Meany Theater at the University of Washington, Seattle
Read more here.
Miroirs CA: Mirror in Mirror by Anne Akiko Meyers
Mirror, mirror on the wall, guess who released one of the most intriguing recordings of them all? Anne Akiko Meyers, of course. This boutique style CD features arrangements of works by composers of our time that contain a satisfying amount of spirituality and pathos. While Ravel is a composer for all time, the disc includes Tzigane, one of her go to pieces, and for good reason.
Miroirs CA
Mirror, mirror on the wall, guess who released one of the most intriguing recordings of them all? Anne Akiko Meyers, of course. This boutique style CD features arrangements of works by composers of our time that contain a satisfying amount of spirituality and pathos. While Ravel is a composer for all time, the disc includes Tzigane, one of her go to pieces, and for good reason.
Read more here.