Beethoven in Scotland
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Dr. Myrna Herzog
Oct 18, 2010, 11:02:28 AM10/18/10
to myrna...@phoenixearlymusic.com
Dear Friends of PHOENIX,
Have you noticed that the capsule that miraculously brought the Chilean miners from the bosom of the earth back to life was called…Fenix, like our ensemble? Indeed, rebirth, renovation is crucial for mankind. And it entails taking risks, facing challenges.
At home, our PHOENIX is taking yet another challenge: for the time, after 11 years of existence, the ensemble will be tackling Beethoven’s music on period instruments. We will use the wonderful French Baas fortepiano made in 1800, i.e. two years after the Gassenhauer Piano Trio was composed, and nine years before Beethoven began arranging folk songs for the Scottish publisher George Thomson.
The fortepiano is settling after half year in the country, and the person who will play it is its restorer, Alex Rosenblatt, who is doing a terrific job. Yasuko Hirata will be as usual our warm and excellent chamber partner on the violin, while we welcome a new singer, Karin Shifrin, whose rendition reveals us all the shadows and subtleties of the beautiful Scottish texts (some by Sir Walter Scott). While I feel like a child with her new toy, with a new transition cello bow just acquired! I am excited about the deep and rich tone that this bow elicits from my cello. And how it gives all the dynamics markings a new meaning.
And the music, ah, the music, is great! I have dreamed of performing those Scottish songs since I was a teen-ager. Our rehearsals are punctuated by exclamations such as: “isn’t this marvelous, isn’t this amazing?” It is a privilege to play such music on such instruments and with such colleagues.
Attached you will find the dates and venues of the concerts, starting on Friday morning at Tiberias. We hope you will join us for the adventure!
Myrna Herzog
Director
Have you noticed that the capsule that miraculously brought the Chilean miners from the bosom of the earth back to life was called…Fenix, like our ensemble? Indeed, rebirth, renovation is crucial for mankind. And it entails taking risks, facing challenges.
At home, our PHOENIX is taking yet another challenge: for the time, after 11 years of existence, the ensemble will be tackling Beethoven’s music on period instruments. We will use the wonderful French Baas fortepiano made in 1800, i.e. two years after the Gassenhauer Piano Trio was composed, and nine years before Beethoven began arranging folk songs for the Scottish publisher George Thomson.
The fortepiano is settling after half year in the country, and the person who will play it is its restorer, Alex Rosenblatt, who is doing a terrific job. Yasuko Hirata will be as usual our warm and excellent chamber partner on the violin, while we welcome a new singer, Karin Shifrin, whose rendition reveals us all the shadows and subtleties of the beautiful Scottish texts (some by Sir Walter Scott). While I feel like a child with her new toy, with a new transition cello bow just acquired! I am excited about the deep and rich tone that this bow elicits from my cello. And how it gives all the dynamics markings a new meaning.
And the music, ah, the music, is great! I have dreamed of performing those Scottish songs since I was a teen-ager. Our rehearsals are punctuated by exclamations such as: “isn’t this marvelous, isn’t this amazing?” It is a privilege to play such music on such instruments and with such colleagues.
Attached you will find the dates and venues of the concerts, starting on Friday morning at Tiberias. We hope you will join us for the adventure!
Myrna Herzog
Director
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