Day: June 14, 2023

Pat and Jimmy Helped Me Put Up The Bunting We Got At Pauline’s Gifts On Essex Ave

Because we’re proud Americans!

One Morning in Maine…

Rockport Music’s 42^nd Annual Rockport Chamber Music Festival, under the artistic direction of Barry Shiffman, continues with its final 2 weeks (June 29-July 9) with a rich variety of programming ranging from a solo piano recital of Beethoven and a chamber program of Schumann and Brahms to a chamber orchestra and percussion ensemble. 

On Thursday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m., the 2022 BBC Next Generation Artist and Winner of the Silver Medal and “Audience Favorite” at the 2019 Tchaikovsky International Competition, Santiago Cañón-Valencia, with pianist Jeanie Chung perform a lush program of Bach, Ravel, Ginastera and one of his own compositions. The Strad magazine proclaims his playing as, “technically flawless, he’s totally under the skin of the composers’ idioms.”

On Friday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m., the Festival features one of America’s foremost violinists, Stefan Jackiw, who is joined by clarinetist Yoonah Kim and pianist Max Levinson for a truly virtuosic, lush program of Brahms and Schumann. Jackiw has been hailed for “talent that’s off the scale” (The Washington Post) and Kim is known for her “inexhaustible virtuosity” (New York Times). Together, they bring a dynamic evening of chamber masterworks from Brahms and both Clara and Robert Schumann.

On Saturday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m., the Festival hosts the Isidore Quartet, winners at the 2022 Banff International Quartet Competition. The Quartet members have established their place as one of the most dynamic string quartets performing today. The Quartet performs works of Wijeratne and Britten and then are joined by esteemed pianist Shai Wosner for Brahms’s dramatic Piano Quintet in F minor. From Artistic Director Barry Shiffman, who is also the director of the Banff Competition:

As Director of the Banff competition, I get to discover dozens of fine young quartets from around the world. The Isidore stand out in this crowded scene, as artists of both incredible technical ability and a wonderful sense of unity and purpose. These are young artists eager to bring in listeners and share their palpable love and enthusiasm for the chamber music repertoire. 

The program opens with the most exciting and engaging work, The Disappearance of Lisa Gheradini, by composer Dinuk Wijeratne. This 9 minute work was a required part of the competition and was performed by all ten quartets invited to Banff. It is a fascinating musical and theatrical depiction of the incredible story of the heist of the Mona Lisa. The Isidore have a brilliant often hilarious interpretation that surprised everyone in Banff. Their embrace of the strong narrative of the work lead to a result that will be unlike anything else in the festival.  Part theatre, part musical performance, the work serves to introduce us to the characters of the story of the heist as well as the strong artistic personalities of the Isidore Quartet. 

On Sunday, July 2 at 5 p.m., pianist Stewart Goodyear, performs in the Festival. He is proclaimed “a phenomenon” (Los Angeles Times) and is an accomplished pianist and composer. His spectacular performance in last year’s Festival of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue brought audiences to their feet. This year, he brings an evening of mostly Beethoven, including his timeless “Moonlight” Sonata, the “Tempest,” and the “Appassionata.”  Additionally, the program will include a world premiere of Stewart Goodyear’s own composition–“Rhapsody.” 

In the closing weekend of the Festival, the chamber orchestra A Far Cry performs on Thursday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m.  Named by The New Yorker as one of the “Imagination-Grabbing, Trailblazing Artists of 2014,” the Grammy-nominated A Far Cry brings a rich and diverse program of works by Dvorák, Golijov, Montgomery, as well as a new commission by Juantio Becenti. 

On Friday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m., the Grammy Award winning ensemble Third Coast Percussion (TCP) brings a dynamic program of works by Philip Glass, Missy Mazzoli, Mark Applebaum, Devonté Hynes and David Skidmore. The TCP has been praised for “commandingly elegant” (New York Times) performances, the “rare power” (Washington Post) of their recordings, and “an inspirational sense of fun and curiosity” (Minnesota Star-Tribune). The members of Third Coast are also accomplished teachers and currently serve as ensemble-in-residence at Denison University. The Group will also present a free family concert on Thursday, July 6 at 11 am for all.

Later on Friday, July 7, at 9:45 p.m., the Festival Cabaret features Music from the Movies with clarinetist Todd Palmer, violinist Danbi Um, and violinist/violist Barry Shiffman.

On Saturday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m., violinist Paul Huang and pianist Roman Rabinovich perform a dramatic program of works by Mendelssohn, Respighi, Ysaÿe and Saint-Saëns. Recipient of the prestigious 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the 2017 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, Paul Huang “possesses a big, luscious tone, spot-on intonation and a technique that makes the most punishing string phrases feel as natural as breathing,” (Washington Post).  He joins with pianist Roman Rabinovich, praised for his “uncommon sensitivity and feeling” (New York Times), and winner of the 2008 Rubinstein International Piano Competition.

The Festival closing night is an Evening of Schubert on Sunday, July 9 at 5 p.m. with such stunning artists as violinists Paul Huang and Danbi Um, cellist Colin Carr, clarinetist Todd Palmer, and many more.  This unforgettable closing concert brings some of Schubert’s greatest works with cellist Colin Carr and pianist Kyungwha Chu opening with Schubert’s expressive Arpeggione sonata. The concert culminates with an all-star ensemble performing his glorious Octet in F major, which Schubert modeled after Beethoven’s famed Septet.

The Festival has two additional stand-alone concerts later in the summer that feature the Grammy Award-winning Chanticleer on Tuesday, July 25 and the legendary violinistGidon Kremer on Saturday, August 12.

On Friday, June 30 at 11 am, the Festival screens the film Los Hermanos/The Brothers that centers on two Afro-Cuban brothers, separated by geopolitics but united by music. The film is free and open to the public. Also, several artists will host outreach community programs including the Isidore Quartet hosting a program at Pathways for Children in Gloucester and Supportive Living, Inc. in Rockport.

All performances are held at Rockport Music’s Shalin Liu Performance Center at 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA 01966. Join in the Festival with all its spectacular musical offerings. Visit our website at rockportmusic.org for more details. The remainder of the Festival with full program details follows.

147 Thatcher Rd Gloucester

To honor Flag Day, it seems appropriate to give a shout out to some of those listed on the flags currently flying along the Boulevard: Ralph Stanton, Eileen Ryan, David R. Silveira, Raymond A. Fisher, Richard W. Coombs, Brian D. White, James T. Fortado, John Jessica Finley Burns and Helena Ciarametaro. Special blessing on them and on their families and friends who arranged for this tribute. There are many other and I encourage you to check out the names and pause a moment to remember.