Feast of Music

Coffee Conversation: Pianist Benjamin Hochman

by Angela Sutton

On Tuesday evening I sat down with the excellent pianist (and one of the nicest people you're likely ever to meet) Benjamin Hochman to discuss his upcoming concert at SubCulture on Monday, March 10, among other musical subjects. Monday's program features four sets of contemporary variations, including Filippo Berio's Five Variations; Oliver Knussen's Variations, Op. 24; the newly commissioned Frederic Variations by the Israeli-American composer Tamar Muskal; and the massive Rzewski work The People United Will Never Be Defeated.

To be strictly accurate, this was a tea/beer conversation—too late in the day for coffee! Nonetheless, here are a few highlights:

On the Construction of the Program: The program is built around the Rzewski set, which I have wanted to play for some time. Since SubCulture is a modern space, it made sense to add contemporary variation sets [the Berio and Knussen works]. And, finally, I wanted a commissioned work [the Frederic Variations]. Tamar is a friend and compatriot, and I had previously played her trio.

Vienna: City of Dreams—Gun-Brit Barkman and Vienna State Opera Redefine Salome

by Michael Cirigliano II

With the wealth of talent that flies in and out of Carnegie Hall on a regular basis, it's hard for any one group to stand apart from the pack, even for a world-class ensemble like the Vienna Philharmonic. What better way to diversify this group's talents, though, than to take two performances out of their three-week-long series, Vienna: City of Dreams, and showcase their "other" job as the house band for the Vienna State Opera. During Saturday evening's concert performance of Richard Strauss' genre-bending 1905 opera, Salome, the mighty Philharmonic players, under the baton of Andris Nelsons, transformed themselves into a savage, monstrous orchestral force to be reckoned with. There are special nights at Carnegie, and then there are nights like these.

Nothing about Strauss' 90-minute masterpiece was standard for the time (or even for today): a biblical storyline transcribed by the then-degenerate literary figure Oscar Wilde; an onstage striptease; an offstage beheading; sexual interest between a stepfather and his stepdaughter (take that, Mr. Allen!); and a leading role that spends over 75 percent of the running time on stage. Add to this a post-Wagnerian sense of constantly shifting chromatic harmony, and you have a recipe for disaster—or, rather, incredible success. (The 1906 Austrain premiere in Graz was the talk of the continent, with none other than Mahler, Schoenberg, Berg, and even a young Hitler reportedly in attendance.)

Over 100 years later, the opera still grips audiences with its bloody, majestic hand. Andris Nelsons (who will step to the podium as the Boston Symphony's new music director next season) led the orchestra and singers through a pristine account of the score. Despite the size of the 80-plus orchestra, textures and inner voices were as crystalline as this reviewer has ever heard. From the first serpentine scale in the clarinet through the violent attack on Salome by Herod's soldiers that closes the opera, every moment was sublimely paced and effortlessly musical.

These Kids Are All Right: Juillard415 and AXIOM

For all of the world-class performing ensembles that come trotting through NYC on a regular basis, it's easy to overlook the regular concerts given here by one of the world's great music conservatories. Sure, the students at Juillard may not technically be professionals, but the standard of acceptance there is so impossibly high these days, they can hold their own against almost anyone. And, not just in the standard repertoire, as I found out in two concerts I saw this past week.

On Monday, I heard Juillard's period-instrument music ensemble, Juilliard 415, perform music from the 17th century written to accompany the plays of Shakespeare. The ensemble, named for the pitch (A=415) used in the performance of Baroque music, was joined by the extraordinary conductor and viol player Jordi Savall, who, in the span of a five-decade career, has revolutionized the performance of early music from all corners the world.

This being a Juilliard joint, they were also joined by students from the Drama division—no slouches themselves—who enacted scenes from The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, and The Tempest, with music by Robert Johnson and Matthew Locke, respectively. This was music of pure joy and infectious rhythm, which the Juillard kids played as if they had been performing it all of their lives. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during their rehearsals; no doubt they soaked up Savall's instructions like a sponge. 

FREE TICKETS: Orli Shaham at SubCulture

NOTE: This contest has ended.

Pianist Orli Shaham celebrates the release of her latest album, American Grace, at SubCulture this Monday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. Composer/guitarist Steven Mackey and pianist Jon Kimura Parker join Shaham for the event.

Catch the show with a pair of free tickets, courtesy of FoM!

For your chance to win:

1. Email free@feastofmusic.com    -OR-

2. Tweet #FreeTickets Orli Shaham @feastofmusic  (and don't forget to follow us!)   -OR-

3. Head to our Facebook page and COMMENT on our giveaway post! Note: "Likes" on their own will not be considered valid entries.

FREE TICKETS: Jenny Lin at SubCulture

NOTE: This contest has ended.

Pianist Jenny Lin presents The Composer-Pianists: The Art of Transcriptions and Arrangements at SubCulture on Tuesday, February 25, at 7:30 p.m., and FoM is giving away a pair of free tickets to the show!

The program includes works by Kreisler, Rogers, Loewe, Gershwin, Berlin, Arlen, and Stravinsky. In addition, Lin celebrates the release of her latest album, Stravinsky, a set of the composer's lesser-known works for solo piano.

For your chance to win:

1. Email free@feastofmusic.com    -OR-

2. Tweet #FreeTickets Jenny Lin @feastofmusic  (and don't forget to follow us!)   -OR-

3. Head to our Facebook page and COMMENT on our giveaway post! Note: "Likes" on their own will not be considered valid entries.