The blog for the Celebrity Series of Boston- a Boston based arts organization which presents an annual concert series. Here you can find news about our season, local and international arts, and much more! www.celebrityseries.org
Find a piano, upload and image or a movie, read about Play Me, I'm Yours: www.streetpianosboston.com
Check out our 75th Anniversary Season: www.celebrityseries.org.
Musings on Van Cliburn
He was a phenomenon. He was a larger
than life personality. He was a genuine American hero. He was a gifted pianist
who brought world attention to American classical music. He was the
quintessential Southern gentleman -- a tall Texan who conquered the hearts of
the Soviet and American public when both nations stared at each other grimly
across a political divide.
He was the first musician to receive a
New York ticker tape parade when he returned to the US following his winning
the prestigious International Tchaikowsky Competition in Moscow in 1958.
And yet, many musicians and critics felt
he never lived to fulfill the potential that lay before him.
He was a gracious, giving personality
who easily won the hearts of everyone he met.
He had his quirks: he hated being early for
his own concerts, preferring to arrive a few minutes past concert time, doff
his coat, stride on stage, sit down at the piano and begin playing the National
Anthem. When everyone resumed their seats, he began the concert.
I recall being invited with my mentor,
Aaron Richmond, by Van Ciburn's then American concert manager, William Judd of
Columbia Artists, to his apartment to hear a young pianist they had signed with
the hopes that we might book him in recital. This was in the period just before
he left for the Moscow competition. Little did I know what would follow in the
next few months.
Within a year or so, we were presenting
Van Cliburn in recital in Boston to an adoring public which filled every seat
in Symphony Hall with an overflow on the stage, while hundreds of would-be
ticket buyers were turned away.
I feel blessed indeed to have had the
opportunity to share in presenting Van Cliburn in recital in Boston on over a
dozen occasions.
Au revoir, Van -- we loved you dearly.
Pianist Van Cliburn in Tel Aviv, 1962
Pianist Van Cliburn has died at age 78. The Shreveport, Louisiana native's triumph at the 1958 Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow made him a household name.
Van Cliburn made his Celebrity Series debut in 1960 and performed on the Series a total of 13 times - all in recital and all at Symphony Hall - most recently in 2001.
Numerous winners of The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition have also appeared on the Celebrity Series over the years, including Jose Feghali, Jon Nakamatsu, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Alexander Kobrin, Olga Kern, and Hoachen Zhang.
Coverage of Van Cliburn's death:
New York Times
Wall Street Journal
Washington Post
Los Angeles Times
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
BBC News
Chicago Tribune
Videos:
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in Moscow (1962)
Christie's Auction Interview (includes clip of 1958 competition)
At The Kennedy Center Honors (2001)
The great German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau has died at age 86. He performed a total of 6 Celebrity Series recitals between 1962 and 1978. Greatly admired and loved by legions of fans, he enjoyed an unusually long singing career. Richard Cattani, reviewing Fischer-Dieskau's 1968 Symphony Hall recital for The Christian Science Monitor, wrote, "If Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau were to give only one more concert, it would be worth crossing a continent or an ocean to hear him."
The Baltimore Sun (TIm Smith's Clef Notes)
Gustav Leonhardt
The renowned Dutch harpsichordist, organist and conductor Gustav Leonhardt has died at 83. A pioneer of period instrument performance, Leonhardt performed four harpsichord recitals on the Celebrity Series from 1978 to 1990. Reviewing for The Boston Globe in 1980, Richard Dyer said of one Celebrity Series Leonhardt recital, "... one listened not through the music to what it used to be, but to it for what it is."
Celebrity Series of Boston
Gary Dunning, President and Executive Director
Announces Cancellation of Thomas Quasthoff and
Michael Schade performance at Jordan Hall
Quasthoff to Retire
(Boston) Celebrity Series President and Executive Director, Gary Dunning announced today that the Thomas Quasthoff and Michael Schade recital has been cancelled due to Mr. Quasthoff’s retirement. The performance was scheduled for Friday, March 23. The performance will not be rescheduled or substituted.
Ticket holders will be notified of options to donate or exchange tickets or to request a refund and are requested to retain their tickets until they receive notification. Patrons may call Celebrity Series of Boston at (617) 482-2595.
Said Mr. Quasthoff in a statement released by his management, “After almost 40 years, I have decided to retire from concert life. My health no longer allows me to live up to the high standard that I have always set for my art and myself. I owe a lot to this wonderful profession and leave without a trace of bitterness. On the contrary, I am looking forward to the new challenges that will now enter my life. I would like to thank all my fellow musicians and colleagues, with whom I stood together on stage, all the organizers, and my audience for their loyalty.”
Gary Dunning, Celebrity Series President and Executive Director, says “We understand and respect Mr. Quasthoff’s decision. He’s had an impressive musical career full of artistic integrity and quality performances and recordings. Each of his previous three Celebrity Series performances have been met with delight and praise. We only have admiration for his artistry and personal character.”
About Celebrity Series of Boston
The Celebrity Series of Boston is New England’s leading presenter of music, dance and the performing arts from around the world. Now in its 73rd season, the Celebrity Series brings performances by instrumental and vocal soloists, orchestras and chamber ensembles, dance companies, jazz, folk and ethnic artists and ensembles to Boston’s major concert halls. Through the Arts, Education and Community Program, the Celebrity Series reaches thousands of youngsters annually with opportunities to experience and participate in the performing arts through concerts, workshops and the award-winning AileyCamp Boston, an intensive six-week summer dance program for Boston middle school students. For more information on Celebrity Series of Boston, call (617) 482-2595 or visit us online at www.celebrityseries.org.
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The MLK Summer Scholars
L to R: Aidan Dunbar, Boston Globe Publisher Christopher Mayer, Yadarys Familia, Garrecia Powell
L to R: Aidan Dunbar, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Garrecia Powell, Yadarys Familia
L to R: Aidan Dunbar, Garrecia Powell, Yadarys Familia
AileyCamp Boston 2011 started yesterday at Orchard Gardens K-8 school in Roxbury. AileyCamp Boston is a tuition-free summer camp designed for Boston-area middle school students. Running July 5 through August 11, the program is operated by the Celebrity Series of Boston Arts, Education and Community Program. A full scholarship summer day camp for 11-14 year olds, the program uses dance as a vehicle for developing self-esteem, self-discipline, creative expression and critical thinking skills. Eighty students have been selected to attend this this summer, and prior dance training is not a consideration for admission.
In addition to the AileyCamp Boston staff, four group leaders who are standout high school students have been chosen from the MLK Summer Scholars program. MLK Summer Scholars works in close partnership with the Boston Globe, Boston University, Partners HealthCare and the City of Boston, and addresses what was deemed a critical need by Mayor Thomas M. Menino—summer jobs for city youth. AileyCamp Boston is proud to work with these students to help further their personal and professional goals.
Yesterday, the MLK Scholars had an opportunity to attend a meeting with Mayor Menino; Christopher Mayer, Publisher of the Boston Globe; Dr. Gary Gottlieb, CEO of Partners Healthcare; Carol Fulp, VP of Community Relations at John Hancock; James R. Boyle, President of John Hancock Financial Services; Edward Davis, Boston Police Commissioner; and Robert A. Brown, President of Boston University. They spoke about the importance of youth leadership in Boston communities and the impact that jobs play in the lives of teens.
We are looking forward to working with the AileyCampers and MLK Scholars this summer!
Pianist Vijay Iyer
Jazz pianist and composer Vijay Iyer was named one of the "50 most influential global Indians" by GQ India. He is in some impressive company (of course, he is pretty impressive in his own right).
The Celebrity Series of Boston presents Vijay Iyer with another influential jazz musician, saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenon in a double-bill concert at Berklee Performance Center on December 9.
The founding members of the Beaux Arts Trio:
(L to R) Isidore Cohen, violin, Menahem Pressler,
piano, Bernard Greenhouse, cello
Distinguished cellist and longtime Wellfleet, Mass. resident Bernard Greenhouse died May 13. Among many accomplishments and accolades, Mr. Greenhouse was a founding member of The Beaux Arts Trio, with whom he performed regularly from 1955 until his retirement in 1987.
Mr. Greenhouse made two appearances on the Celebrity Series. In 1968 he appeared with the Bach Aria Group (with soloists Samuel Baron, flute; Robert Bloom, oboe; Norman Farrow, bass-baritone; Maureen Forrester, alto; Richard Lewis, tenor; Lois Marshall, soprano; Oscar Shumsky, violin; and Paul Ulanowsky, piano). In 1971 he performed with the then Beaux Arts Trio of New York (Menahem Pressler, piano, Isidore Cohen, violin).
New York Times
2009 interview with Bernard Greenhouse
Beaux Arts Trio performance (from Schubert Trio in B-flat)
Beaux Arts Trio performance (from Ravel Trio in A minor)
The world has lost pianist George Shearing at the age of 91. Jack Kerouac's "Old God Shearing" played the Celebrity Series of Boston only once, a Symphony Hall date in 1995 with clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. The performance included Gee, Baby Ain't I Good to You, Stars in My Eyes, If Ever I Should Lose You and the slightly unexpected choice of Eddie Harris' Freedom Jazz Dance.
The Telegraph (UK)
A Blog Supreme/NPR Jazz (NPR's Morning Edition interview from 1995)
George Shearing Quintet, Conception (video)
George Shearing Quintet, Swedish Pastry (video)
Audio link and transcript of Shearing interviewed by singer Joe Williams
Martha H. Jones
Congratulations to Celebrity Series of Boston President and Executive Director, Martha H. Jones, on receiving the 2011 Patrick Hayes Award at the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) annual conference in New York. ISPA is a not-for-profit network of performing arts professionals who convene with the goal of strengthening the arts internationally by building leadership ability, recognizing and discussing field-wide trends and deepening global exchange through the arts. ISPA is wide-ranging network of over 350 individuals, organizations and institutions from more than 40 countries around the world.
The Patrick Hayes Award recognizes an ISPA member whose achievements in arts management are deserving of special praise and recognition, and is named after ISPA’s founding president, Patrick Hayes. With her 25 years of leadership at the Celebrity Series of Boston, previous role as Chair of ISPA, role as founding member of the Huntington Theatre Company, and numerous achievements in the field of arts administration, Marty has continually proven her indispensability as a leader in the field of arts management.
Marty joins a select group of only 24 arts leaders who have received this prestigious award.
For more information on the award, visit:
http://www.ispa.org/who/awards/424-2011patrickhayesaward
Rudolf Barshai
Russian conductor Rudolf Barshai died November 2 at 86. Noted as conductor and founder of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the founding violist of the renowned Borodin Quartet, Barshai was a student of Shostakovich and quite close to Prokofiev. As a member of the Borodin Quartet, he performed at the funerals of both Prokofiev and Josef Stalin, which took place on the same day.
Barshai conducted performances by the Moscow Chamber Orchestra on three occasions for the Celebrity Series, in 1963, '66, and '75. The performances included, in the 1966 concert, the Boston premiere of a joint "rearrangement" of Shostakovich's Tenth Quartet, renamed Chamber Symphony, undertaken by composer and conductor.
German interview with Rudolf Barshai (captioned) part 1
German interview with Rudolf Barshai (captioned) part 2
German interview with Rudolf Barshai (captioned) part 3
Shirley Verrett
The great soprano Shirley Verrett died November 5 at her home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to her local appearances with the Opera Company of Boston, Ms. Verrett appeared in recital 3 times for the Celebrity Series, first in 1979, and again in 1982 and 1991.
Below are some obituaries and videos of Ms. Verrett in performance.
The New York Times (Anthony Tommasini)
The Detroit Free Press
The Washington Post (Ronald Blum)
The Baltimore Sun (Tim Smith)
The Boston Globe (Associated Press)
Shirley Verrett sings Tosca at The Met
Shirley Verrett as Eboli "O don fatale" from Don Carlo
Shirley Verrett sings "Exultate jubilate" by Mozart
Soprano Joan Sutherland has died at age 83. Dubbed "La Stupenda," the Stupendous One, following her Italian debut in Venice in 1960, she was one of the most acclaimed singers of the 20th century.
Joan Sutherland performed only once on the Celebrity Series, at Symphony Hall in February 1963. Her program included works by William Boyce, Handel, Giovanni Paisiello, Johann Christian Bach, Dr. Thomas Augustine Arne, Luigi Boccherini, and Ambroise Thomas. She did appear in Boston numerous times with the Metropolitan Opera on tour, engagements typically managed by then Celebrity Series director Walter Pierce.
New York Times (Anthony Tommasini)
Washington Post (Ann Midgette)
Los Angeles Times (Mike Boehm
Fresh Air (Lloyd Schwartz, National Public Radio)
The Wall Street Journal (Heidi Waleson)
San Francisco Chronicle (Joshua Kosman)
The Australian
Sydney Morning Herald
Peter Gelb & James Levine's obituary in New York Times classified section
BBC News
Tribute to Sir Charles Mackerras (video)
UPDATES:
Washington Post (Ann Midgette)
San Francisco Chronicle (Joshua Kosman)
Jonathan Wolken interview (video)
Jonathan Wolken Seattle Times interview (2007)
