Memorable Tchaikovsky opens North Shore Chamber Music Festival

CHICAGO  CLASSICAL  REVIEW   Memorable  Tchaikovsky  opens  North  Shore   Chamber  Music  Festival   Thu  Jun  04,  2015  at  1:50  pm   By  Lawrenc...
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CHICAGO  CLASSICAL  REVIEW  

Memorable  Tchaikovsky  opens  North  Shore   Chamber  Music  Festival   Thu  Jun  04,  2015  at  1:50  pm   By  Lawrence  A.  Johnson    

  The  Ariel  Quartet  performed  music  of  Beethoven  Wednesday  night     at  the  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  in  Northbrook.  

It’s  hard  to  believe,  but  there  was  a  time  not  all  that  long  ago  when  Tchaikovsky’s  Piano  Trio   in  A  minor  was  more  talked  about  than  performed.  The  celebrated  recording  by  Itzhak   Perlman,  Lynn  Harrell  and  Vladimir  Ashkenazy  (EMI/Angel)  did  much  to  restore  the  work   to  its  current  popularity  though  it  still  took  decades  to  nudge  its  way  into  the  regular   repertory.   Tchaikovsky’s  epic  Trio  was  the  principal  work  Wednesday  night  in  the  opening  concert  of   the  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  at  the  Village  Presbyterian  Church  in  Northbrook.   And,  as  performed  by  violinist  and  festival  artistic  director  Vadim  Gluzman,  cellist  Mark   Kosower  and  pianist  William  Wolfram,  this  was  as  compelling  and  richly  idiomatic  a   performance  of  this  fascinating  work  as  one  is  ever  likely  to  hear.   Subtitled  “In  memory  of  a  great  artist,”  Tchaikovsky’s  homage  to  his  colleague  Nikolai   Rubinstein  was  said  to  be  inspired  by  a  picnic  excursion  in  which  the  two  men  encountered   a  band  of  Russian  folk  musicians.  Yet  the  epic  scale  and  expressive  scope  of  the  Piano  Trio   is,  as  Wolfram  said  in  his  introduction,  “almost  operatic.”  The  final  movement’s  variations   are  among  Tchaikovsky’s  most  inspired  achievements.  Not  only  do  they  appear  to  reflect   the  mercurial  personality  of  the  prickly  yet  charismatic  Rubinstein,  but  the  remarkable   range  and  variety  seem  to  encompass  something  broader  and  deeper  of  the  Russian  soul   itself,  in  tandem  with  the  elegiac  gloom  of  the  opening  movement.   Even  a  “popcorn”  cell  phone  interruption  (twice)  didn’t  disturb  the  momentum  and   communicative  thrust  of  Wednesday’s  remarkable  performance.  With  Wolfram’s  powerful   keyboard  work  anchoring  the  music,  Gluzman  and  Kosower  proved  wonderfully  simpatico   colleagues,  playing  with  focused,  gleaming  tone  that  strongly  conveyed  the  melancholy  of   the  opening  movement.  The  variations  were  fully  characterized  with  the  burnished  tone  of   Kosower–principal  of  the  Cleveland  Orchestra—consistently  beautiful.  The  fugal  variation   went  with  fizzing  energy  and  the  ensuing  section  had  a  gentle  wistful  quality  that  was  most   affecting.  Launched  with  immense  vitality  and  swagger,  the  finale  was  exhilarating  with  the   coda’s  reprise  of  the  somber  opening  theme  feeling  resonant  and  inevitable.   In  the  first  half,  the  Ariel  Quartet  made  an  impressive  festival  debut  in  Beethoven’s   “Razumovsky”  Quartet  in  E  minor,  Op.  59,  no.2.   The  young  Israeli  ensemble  has  a  lean,  slightly  astringent  sonority  well  suited  to  this   middle-­‐period  work.  The  musicians  firmly  conveyed  the  minor-­‐key  drama  of  the  opening  

movement,  bringing  a  physical  quality  to  their  playing,  and  often  swaying  with  the  music.   Yet  the  musicianship  was  always  close-­‐knit,  the  Ariel  members  watching  and  listening  to   each  other  attentively.  If  the  otherworldly  heights  of  the  sublime  Adagio  weren’t  quite   scaled,  the  playing  had  a  glowing  radiance  and  went  with  a  natural  ease  and  conversational   ebb  and  flow.   The  players’  off-­‐the-­‐beat  accents  in  the  ensuing  Allegretto  put  across  the  music’s  restless   agitation.  The  playing  was  especially  engaging  in  the  Russian  folksong  passage–a  theme  also   famously  borrowed  by  Mussorgsky  for  Boris  Godunov–with  the  musicians  batting  it  back   and  forth  with  light  agility.  The  performance  was  rounded  off  with  a  spirited  account  of  the   galumphing  finale,  dynamic  details  closely  observed  without  ever  sounding  pedantic.  The   Ariel  Quartet  is  clearly  a  greatly  gifted  ensemble  whose  star  is  on  the  rise.   The  evening  led  off  with  Alfred  Schnittke’s  Suite  in  the  Old  Style,  heard  in  an  arrangement  for   string  quintet.  In  this  artful  homage  the  Russian  composer  mines  17th-­‐  and  18th-­‐century   models.  Unlike  his  Moz-­‐Art  à  la  Haydn,  Schnittke  mostly  plays  it  straight  until  the  finale   where  his  acerbic  style  breaks  through  the  surface  gallanteries.   Ilya  Kaler’s  elegant,  sweet-­‐toned  violin  nicely  brought  out  the  Rococo  charm,  backed  by   refined  tone  and  nimble  articulation  from  his  colleagues  in  the  neo-­‐Baroque  fugues.  Yet  the   players  also  conveyed  Schnittke’s  subversive  element,  as  with  the  duel  of  hard  pizzicatos   between  Kaler  and  Gluzman.   The  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  continues  7:30  p.m.  Friday  at  The  Village   Presbyterian  Church  in  Northbrook.  The  program  offers  Golijov’s  The  Dreams  and   Prayers  of  Isaac  the  Blind  and  Schumann’s  Piano  Quintet  and  duo  arrangement  of   Bach’s  Chaconne.     nscmf.org     847-­‐370-­‐3984.  

CHICAGO  CLASSICAL  REVIEW  

Bach  and  Schumann  works  shine  at  North  Shore   Chamber  Music  Festival   Sat  Jun  06,  2015  at  12:34  pm   By  Tim  Sawyier    

  Vadim  Gluzman  and  Angela  Yoffe  performed  Schumann’s  duo  version  of  the  Bach  Chaconne     Friday  night  at  the  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  in  Northbrook.  

The  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  continued  Friday  night  at  the  Village  Presbyterian   Church  in  Northbrook,  where  the  august  roster  of  artists  offered  penetrating  readings  in  a   compelling  program.  

The  evening  opened  with  artistic  director    and  violinist  Vadim  Gluzman  and  executive   director  and  pianist  Angela  Yoffe  performing  Schumann’s  version  of  Bach’s  Chaconne  for   violin.  Schumann  created  violin  and  piano  arrangements  of  all  of  Bach’s  solo  violin  works   (as  did  Mendelssohn),  leaving  the  violin  part  virtually  unchanged  while  adding  a  minimal   accompaniment  that  is  largely  imitative  and  fills  out  the  harmonies  implied  in  the  violin   writing.   It  is  hard  to  imagine  a  better  performance  of  this  Bach  cornerstone.  Gluzman  and  Yoffe  were   completely  locked  in  from  beginning  to  end,  Yoffe  sensitively  responding  to  Gluzman’s   intelligently  calculated  rubato.  In  Yoffe’s  hands  the  robust  bass  Schumann  adds  to  the   work’s  central  major  section  made  the  music  all  the  more  moving  (if  possible),  and  her   poised,  austere  statements  of  the  original  theme  under  the  violin’s  swirling  figuration   helped  clarify  the  musical  roadmap.  Gluzman’s  playing  was  of  the  highest  order  throughout.   Osvaldo  Golijov’s  The  Dreams  and  Prayers  of  Isaac  the  Blind  featured  clarinetist  Ilya   Shterenberg  and  the  Ariel  Quartet.  Spanning  five  movements  and  inspired  by  the  three   historical  languages  of  the  Jewish  people  (Aramaic,  Yiddish,  and  sacred  Hebrew),  the  35-­‐ minute  work  is  largely  constituted  of  two  textures:  a  slow,  plaintive,  gestural  writing,   contrasted  with  violent  klezmer-­‐infused  episodes.  While  each  is  persuasive  in  its  own  right,   the  thematic  material  is  insufficient  to  sustain  a  work  of  such  duration.   Nonetheless,  the  playing  was  dynamic  and  committed.  Shterenberg  and  the  Ariel  members’   readings  of  the  work’s  pyrotechnical  passages  created  a  sense  of  ancient  urgency,  and  the   contrasting  slow  material  was  amply  imbued  with  idiomatic  nuance.   The  second  half  featured  Schumann’s  Piano  Quintet  in  E-­‐flat  Major,  Op.  44,  with  Gluzman   joined  by  pianist  William  Wolfram,  violinist  Lisa  Shihoten,  violist  Atar  Arad,  and  cellist  Mark   Kosower  in  a  pristine  rendition.   Wolfram’s  playing  managed  to  smolder  without  ever  being  overbearing,  and  Kosower’s   tender  rendition  of  the  first  movement’s  second  theme  elicited  equally  sensitive  responses   from  his  colleagues.  The  ensemble  achieved  a  remarkably  unified  sound  in  the  desiccated   funeral  march,  Arad’s  solo  viola  contributions  standing  out  as  especially  polished.  The  third   movement  was  fleet  and  breathless,  and  the  finale  burbled  with  energy,  culminating  in  a   trenchant  rendition  of  its  closing  double  fugue.  

The  evening  concluded  with  a  nachspiel  (literally  “after  play”)  of  three  short  dances.   Gluzman  shone  with  Yoffe  in  Alfred  Schnittke’s  Polka  from  his  incidental  music  to   Gogol’s  The  Overcoat,  playing  with  reckless  abandon  and  aggression.  Shterenberg  then   joined  the  pair  for  a  Shostakovich  Waltz,  which  had  similar  flair.  The  Ariel  Quartet  closed   the  evening  with  a  sultry  performance  of  Astor  Piazzolla’s  “Tango  Primavera  Porteña”   from  Four  Seasons  of  Buenos  Aires.   The  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  concludes  7:30  p.m.  Saturday  at  the  Village   Presbyterian  Church  in  Northbrook  with  a  program  of  Busoni,  Mozart,  and  Vivaldi.   nscmf.org    

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Chicago  area  classical  music  recommendations  

Harpsichordist Jory Vinikour in his Lincoln Park apartment, in Chicago, on March 1, 2015.

John  von  Rhein  •  Contact  Reporter  

 

    MAY  29,  2015,  8:41  AM  

North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival:  Directors  Vadim  Gluzman,  violin,  and  Angela  Yoffe,   piano,  conclude  the  fifth-­‐anniversary  celebration  with  concerts  by  the  Ariel  String  Quartet,   pianist  William  Wolfram,  clarinetist  Ilya  Shterenberg  and  others.  Schumann's  Piano  Quintet   and  Vivaldi's  "Four  Seasons"  are  among  the  highlights.  7:30  p.m.  Friday  and  Saturday,  Village   Presbyterian  Church,  1300  Shermer  Road,  Northbrook;  $10-­‐$45;  847-­‐370-­‐3984,  nscmf.org   [email protected]   Twitter  @jvonrhein   Copyright  ©  2015,  Chicago  Tribune  

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Chicago  area  classical  music  recommendations  

  Chicago  Philharmonic  closes  its  25th  anniversary  season  June  7  at  Pick-­‐Staiger  Concert  Hall.        John  von  Rhein  •  Contact  Reporter       JUNE  5,  2015,  11:54  AM  

Northbrook  Symphony  Orchestra:  The  ensemble  steps  up  its  collaboration  with  the  Music   Institute  of  Chicago  by  featuring  eight  young  soloists  from  the  MIC  Academy.  The  program,   conducted  by  music  director  Lawrence  Rapchak  and  Academy  director  James  Setapen,   includes  music  by  Spohr,  Mozart,  Haydn  and  others.  7:30  p.m.  Saturday,  Nichols  Concert  Hall,   1490  Chicago  Ave.,  Evanston;  $30-­‐$40;  847-­‐272-­‐0755,  800-­‐838-­‐ 3006;  northbrooksymphony.org   Chicago  Ensemble:  The  group's  38th  season  finale  ranges  from  Bach  to  French  composers   Debussy,  Poulenc  and  Ibert,  to  American  composer  Mark  Zuckerman.  7:30  p.m.  Sunday,   International  House,  University  of  Chicago,  1414  E.  59th  St.;  $25;  773-­‐558-­‐ 3448,  thechicagoensemble.org  

Chicago  Philharmonic:  The  orchestra  under  artistic  director  Scott  Speck  concludes  its  25th   anniversary  season  with  works  inspired  by  visual  art,  including  the  Mussorgsky-­‐Ravel   "Pictures  at  an  Exhibition"  and  pieces  by  Jennifer  Higdon  and  Kenji  Bunch.  7  p.m.  Sunday,   Pick-­‐Staiger  Concert  Hall,  Northwestern  University,  50  Arts  Circle  Drive,  Evanston;  $25-­‐$75;   312-­‐957-­‐0000,  chicagophilharmonic.org   Chicago  Sinfonietta:  Mei-­‐Ann  Chen  leads  the  season  finale,  "United  We  Stand,"  an   exploration  of  the  American  experience.  Dvorak's  "New  World"  Symphony  shares  the   program  with  the  world  premiere  of  Chicago  composer  James  "Kimo"  Williams'  "Veteran's   Lament."  8  p.m.  Saturday,  Wentz  Concert  Hall,  North  Central  College,  171  E.  Chicago  Ave.,   Naperville;  and  7:30  p.m.  Monday,  Symphony  Center,  220  S.  Michigan  Ave.;  $46-­‐$58  (Wentz),   $16-­‐$99  (Symphony  Center);  312-­‐236-­‐3681,  ext.  2;  chicagosinfonietta.org   Chicago  Symphony  Orchestra:  Guest  conductor  Ludovic  Morlot's  second  and  final   subscription  program  holds  Ravel's  "La  Valse"  and  Piano  Concerto  for  the  Left  Hand,  along   with  Gershwin's  "An  American  in  Paris"  and  Stravinsky's  "Jeu  de  cartes";  pianist  Denis   Kozhukhin  is  the  soloist;  8  p.m.  Saturday;  $33-­‐$249.  Riccardo  Muti  returns  to  lead  the  final   subscription  weeks  of  the  season.  His  first  program  holds  Scriabin's  "Poem  of  Ecstasy"  and   Tchaikovsky's  "Manfred"  Symphony";  8  p.m.  Thursday  (repeated  June  12-­‐13);  $33-­‐ $220.  Symphony  Center,  220  S.  Michigan  Ave.;  312-­‐294-­‐3000,  cso.org   CSO  —  Beyond  the  Score:  French  composer  Maurice  Ravel  is  profiled  in  creative  director   Gerard  McBurney's  multimedia  presentation,  with  musical  illustrations  performed  under   Ludovic  Morlot's  direction.  7:30  p.m.  Friday  and  3  p.m.  Sunday,  Symphony  Center,  220  S.   Michigan  Ave.;  $25-­‐$152;  312-­‐294-­‐3000,  cso.org   Composer  in  the  Loft:  The  Lincoln  Trio  plays  the  world  premiere  of  Ethan  Wickman's   "Elysium  Remembered"  in  the  series'  third  and  final  chapter  of  the  season.  Works  by  Haydn,   Smetana  and  Paul  Schoenfield  share  the  program.  7:30  p.m.  Friday,  PianoForte  Studios,   Recital  Hall,  1336  S.  Michigan  Ave.;  $20;  312-­‐291-­‐0291,  pianofortefoundation.org   Lincolnwood  Chamber  Orchestra:  "Through  Soviet  Jewish  Eyes"  includes  works  by   Shostakovich,  Pavel  Haas  and  Chicago  composer  Ilya  Levinson.  Philip  Simmons  conducts.2  

p.m.  Sunday,  Illinois  Holocaust  Museum  and  Education  Center,  9603  Woods  Drive,  Skokie;   $20;  lincolnwoodchamber.eventbrite.com   North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival:  Directors  Vadim  Gluzman,  violin,  and  Angela  Yoffe,   piano,  conclude  the  fifth-­‐anniversary  celebration  with  concerts  by  the  Ariel  String  Quartet,   pianist  William  Wolfram,  clarinetist  Ilya  Shterenberg  and  others.  Schumann's  Piano  Quintet   and  Vivaldi's  "Four  Seasons"  are  among  the  highlights.  7:30  p.m.  Friday  and  Saturday,  Village   Presbyterian  Church,  1300  Shermer  Road,  Northbrook;  $10-­‐$45;  847-­‐370-­‐3984,  nscmf.org   North  Shore  Choral  Society:  The  chorus  under  Julia  Davids  wraps  up  its  season  with  a   pops  concert  of  big  band,  jazz,  gospel  and  music  theater  selections.  The  North  Branch  Jazz   Ensemble  guests.  3  p.m.  Sunday,  Glenview  Community  Church,  1000  Elm  St.,  Glenview;  $25,   $22  for  seniors;  773-­‐956-­‐8400,  northshorechoral.org   Rush  Hour  Concerts:  The  summer-­‐long  series  of  free  weekly  classical  music  performances   continues  with  a  concert  given  in  memory  of  series  founder  and  director  Deborah  Sobol.   The  Civitas  Ensemble  performs  Brahms'  Piano  Trio  in  B  major.  5  p.m.  Tuesday,  St.  James   Cathedral,  65  E.  Huron  St.;  rushhour.org   South  Loop  Music  Festival:  Stravinsky's  "L'Histoire  du  Soldat"  ("The  Soldier's  Tale")  is   performed  under  Roderick  Cox's  baton,  with  narration  by  David  Belden.  6  p.m.  Sunday,   PianoForte  Studios,  Recital  Hall,  1335  S.  Michigan  Ave.;  $20,  free  for  ages  18  and   younger;  pianofortefoundation.org   [email protected]   Twitter  @jvonrhein   Copyright  ©  2015,  Chicago  Tribune    

DAILY  NORTH  SHORE  

‘A  Good  Excuse  For  A  Party’  …   May  27,  2015     Leave  a  Comment      

  Amit  Even-­‐Tov,  cello;  Jan  Grüning,  viola;  Alexandra  Kazovsky,  violin;  Gershon  Gerchikov,  violin  

NORTHBROOK  –  The  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  (NSCMF)  is  an  “inspired   summer  event  not  to  be  missed”  (Chicago  Classical  Review)  for  Chicagoans  and   travelers  alike.  The  Chicago  Tribune  calls  the  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  a   “Chicago  classical  operation  that  thinks  big.  Very  big.  Internationally  big.”  The   annual  three-­‐day  festival  –  this  year  on  June  3,  5,  and  6  –  is  presented  at  the  Village   Presbyterian  Church  in  Northbrook,  just  two  minutes  walk  from  the  Northbrook   Metra  station.   The  NSCMF  was  founded  in  2010,  to  provide  Chicago’s  North  Shore  with  musical   experiences  of  the  same  level  of  excellence  as  those  found  in  the  great  halls  of  the   world,  but  within  a  very  intimate  and  welcoming  environment.  Through  its  summer   festival  and  year-­‐round  Creative  Learning  Program,  the  organization  strives  to  

provide  a  substantial  and  deeply  meaningful  arts  experience  that  is  at  once   entertaining,  life  affirming,  inspirational,  and  approachable.   This  is  a  milestone  5th  Anniversary  year  for  NSCMF.  In  its  first  four  seasons  more   than  5,200  concert  goers  from  Chicago  and  140  towns  throughout  the  North  Shore   attended  festival  concerts,  which  were  broadcast  live  from  the  stage  each  year  to   350,000  households  locally  on  98.7  WFMT,  Chicago’s  premiere  classical  radio   station.   The  Festival  will  celebrate  the  success  of  its  first  four  seasons  on  June  6  with  a   performance  of  Vivaldi’s  bold  and  passionate  “Four  Seasons”  –  a  cultural  milestone   like  Beethoven’s  Fifth  Symphony  and  Stravinsky’s  “Rite  of  Spring”  that  changed  the   course  of  musical  history.   This  year’s  Haag/Galvin  Young  Artists,  Masha  Lakisova  and  Elli  Choi,  both  13,  will   both  perform  lead  roles  in  the  “Four  Seasons”  and  also  Vivald’s  “Concerto  for  Four   Violins”  alongside  violinists  Vadim  Gluzman,  and  Ilya  Kaler,  harpsichordist  David   Schrader,  and  the  Festival’s  New  Generation  Ensemble.   Vadim  Gluzman,  the  Festival’s  Founder  and  Artistic  Director,  was  featured  in  music   historian  Jean-­‐Michel  Molkhou’s  recent  book:  Great  Violinists  of  the  Twentieth   Century,  Volume  2.  The  book  highlights  the  careers  and  artistry  of  the  top  30   greatest  violinist  of  today  including  Gluzman,  Joshua  Bell,  Pinchas  Zukerman,  Hilary   Hahn,  and  Anne  Sophie  Mutter.   Taking  a  break  from  a  ferociously  busy  tour  schedule  Gluzman  looks  forward  each   summer  to  what  he  happily  calls  “a  gathering  of  friends.”   “One  might  say  that  the  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  is  a  good  excuse  for  a   party,”  jokes  Gluzman.  “Indeed  it  is  …  a  party  to  celebrate  the  most  intimate,  exciting   and  rewarding  way  of  music  making:  chamber  music.  And  this  year  it  is  a  party  to   celebrate  our  5th  anniversary  and  past  four  seasons,  the  tremendous  artistry  of  our  

musicians  and  especially  our  devoted  audience,  without  whose  encouragement  the   festival  would  be  just  meaningless,”  says  Gluzman.   “Each  program  this  season  brings  a  whole  spectrum  of  emotions,  gives  us  a  chance   to  experience  absolutely  magical  moments  of  sublime  beauty,  great  romance  and   tremendous  excitement,”  adds  Gluzman.   Other  highlights  this  year  include  performances  by  the  acclaimed  Israeli  Ariel  String   Quartet  of  Beethoven’s  “Razumovsky  Quartet  Op.  59,  No.  2″  and  Osvaldo  Golijov’s   “Dreams  and  Prayers  of  Isaac  the  Blind”,  featuring  Ilya  Shterenberg,  principal   clarinetist  of  San  Antonio  Symphony.   American  Pianist  William  Wolfram  will  take  the  lead  in  Tchaikovsky’s  “Piano  Trio   Op.  50″  (“In  Memory  of  a  Great  Artist”)  and  Robert  Schumann’s  “Piano  Quintet  in  E-­‐ flat  major”.  Wolfram  is  winner  of  the  silver  medals  in  both  the  William  Kapell  and   the  Naumberg  International  Piano  Competitions,  and  a  bronze  medal  winner  of  the   prestigious  Tchaikovsky  Piano  Competition  in  Moscow.  Music  writer  Joseph   Horowitz,  in  his  book  The  Ivory  Trade,  compares  Wolfram  to  Van  Cliburn  and   Vladimir  Horowitz  as  an  exemplar  of  the  Romantic  virtuoso  tradition.   Renowned  violist  and  composer  Atar  Arad  is  the  featured  instrumentalist  in   Wolfgang  Amadeus  Mozart  Mozart’s  dark  and  melancholic  Viola  Quintet”  in  G  minor,   K.  516.  Typically  regarded  as  Mozart’s  finest  writing  for  small  ensemble,  the  work   expresses  his  unequivocal  love  of  the  viola  and  ushered  in  a  new  musical  genre  in   chamber  music.  Mr.  Arad  is  considered  one  of  the  foremost  violist  of  our  time  and  is   a  Professor  at  Indiana  University’s  Jakob  school  of  music.   Audiences  will  also  have  an  opportunity  to  experience  several  rarely  heard  works  –   like  Alfred  Schnittke’s  “Suite  in  the  Old  Style”,  performed  by  violinists  Vadim   Gluzman  and  Ilya  Kaler,  violist  Jan  Grüning  and  cellist  Mark  Kosower,  and  Ferruccio   Busoni’s  marvelous  “Suite  for  Clarinet  and  Piano  op.  10″  performed  by  clarinetist   Ilya  Shterenberg  and  pianist  William  Wolfram.  

On  Wednesday,  June  3  at  6:00pm,  there  will  be  a  pre-­‐concert  performance  by   students  from  the  Betty  Haag  Academy  of  Music  who  participate  in  NSCMF’s   Creative  Learning  Program.   On  Friday,  June  5  at  6:00pm  the  Ariel  String  Quartet  will  conduct  a  public  discussion   on  THE  ART  OF  QUARTET  PLAYING,  which  will  include  a  master  class  given  to  a   student  quartet.   98.7  WFMT,  Chicago’s  premiere  classical  music  station,  will  broadcast  the  June  3rd   and  5th  concerts  LIVE  from  the  stage  at  the  Village  Presbyterian  Church,  hosted  by   announcer  Dave  Schwan.  The  June  6th  performance  will  be  taped  for  broadcast.   2015  FESTIVAL  ARTISTS   Ariel  String  Quartet   Alexandra  Kazovsky,  violin   Gershon  Gerchikov,  violin   Jan  Grüning,  viola   Amit  Even-­‐Tov,  cello   Atar  Arad,  viola   Vadim  Gluzman,  violin   Ilya  Kaler,  violin   Mark  Kosower,  cello   David  Schrader,  harpsichord   Lisa  Shihoten,  violin   Ilya  Shterenberg,  clarinet   William  Wolfram,  piano   Angela  Yoffe,  piano   TICKETS  AND  MORE  INFORMATION:  BOX  OFFICE:  (847)  370-­‐3984   $25  to  $45,  and  $10  for  students.  Discounted  subscription  packages  are  encouraged.  

Contact  info:   By  phone:  (847)  370-­‐3984   By  E-­‐mail:  [email protected]   By  Mail:  Specify  concert  dates  and  seating  section  preference  and  send  check  to:   North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival,  P.O.  Box  85,  Northbrook,  IL  60065   ABOUT  NSCMF   Boasting  an  impressive  roster  of  classical  music’s  top  performers  each  seasons,  all  old   friends,  the  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  has  been  called  an  “inspired  summer   event  not  to  be  missed”  by  Chicago  Classical  Review  and  a  “Chicago  classical  operation   that  thinks  big.  Very  big.  Internationally  big.”  by  the  Chicago  Tribune.  The  annual   three-­‐day  festival  is  presented  at  the  Village  Presbyterian  Church  in  Northbrook,  just  2   minutes  walk  from  from  the  Northbrook  Metra  station.   Founded  in  2010,  the  North  Shore  Music  Alliance,  the  parent  organization  of  the   NSCMF,  carefully  curates  a  series  of  annual  concerts  and  a  robust  educational   program  that  provides  Chicago’s  North  Shore  region  with  a  substantial  and  deeply   meaningful  arts  experience  that  is  at  once  entertaining,  life  affirming,  inspirational,   and  approachable.  Events  include  concerts  by  world-­‐renowned  classical  musicians,   educational  forums  for  the  audience,  collaborations  with  organizations  such  as  the   Lurie  Children’s  Hospital  of  Chicago  and  the  International  Center  on  Deafness  and  the   Arts  (ICODA).   2015  FESTIVAL  SCHEDULE  OF  EVENTS   All  events  at  the  Village  Presbyterian  Church   1300  Shermer  Road,  Northbrook,  IL   WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  3  at  6:00PM*   THE  NEW  GENERATION   Pre-­‐concert  performance  showcasing  Chicago  area’s  talented  young  musicians.   *  free  with  purchase  of  a  ticket  to  attend  concert  on  June  3  at  7:30PM  

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  3  at  7:30PM   OPENING  NIGHT  –  “TCHAIKOVSKY  RETURNS”   Alfred  Schnittke:  Suite  in  the  Old  Style   Ilya  Kaler,  Vadim  Gluzman,  violins;  Jan  Grüning,  viola;  Mark  Kosower,  cello   Ludwig  van  Beethoven:  Quartet  Op.  59,  No.2,  “Razumovsky”   Ariel  String  Quartet   Pyotr  Ilyich  Tchaikovsky:  Piano  Trio  Op.  50   William  Wolfram,  piano;  Vadim  Gluzman,  violin;  Mark  Kosower,  cello   FRIDAY,  JUNE  5  at  6:00PM*   THE  ART  OF  QUARTET  PLAYING   Masterclass  /  panel  discussion  with  the  Ariel  String  Quartet.   *  free  with  purchase  of  a  ticket  to  attend  concert  on  June  5  at  7:30PM   FRIDAY,  JUNE  5  at  7:30PM   “DREAMS,  PRAYERS  …  AND  DANCES”   J.  S.  Bach/R.  Schumann  –  Chaconne  for  Violin  and  Piano   Vadim  Gluzman,  violin;  Angela  Yoffe,  piano   Osvaldo  Golijov  –  The  Dreams  and  Prayers  of  Isaac  the  Blind   Ilya  Shterenberg,  clarinet;  Ariel  String  Quartet   Robert  Schumann  –  Piano  Quintet  in  E-­‐flat  major,  Op.  44   William  Wolfram,  piano;  Vadim  Gluzman,  Lisa  Shihoten,  violins;  Atar  Arad,  viola;   Mark  Kosower,  cello   The  “Nachspiel  Special”  –  Polka  by  Schnittke,  Waltz  by  Shostakovich,  and  a  tango  by   Piazzolla!   SATURDAY,  JUNE  6  at  7:30PM   GRAND  FINALE  –  “THE  FOUR  SEASONS”  

Ferruccio  Busoni  –  Suite  for  Clarinet  and  Piano  op.  10   Ilya  Shterenberg,  clarinet;  William  Wolfram,  piano   Wolfgang  Amadeus  Mozart  –  String  Quintet  in  G  minor,  K.  516   Vadim  Gluzman,  Lisa  Shihoten,  violins;  Atar  Arad,  Jan  Grüning,  violas;  Mark   Kosower,  cello   Vivaldi  –  The  Four  Seasons  Op.  8   Vadim  Gluzman,  Ilya  Kaler,  Masha  Lakisova**,  and  Elli  Choi**,  violins;  Ariel  String   Quartet;  David  Schrader,  harpsichord   Vivaldi  –  Concerto  for  Four  Violins,  L’Estro  Armonico,  Op.  3   Vadim  Gluzman,  Ilya  Kaler,  Masha  Lakisova**,  and  Elli  Choi**,  violins;  New   Generation  Ensemble   **Masha  Lakisova  and  **Elli  Choi  have  been  selected  as  this  year’s  Haag    

MINSK  CHICAGO   V  International  Festival  of  Chamber  Music  (2015  North   Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival)    

    By  Sergey  Elkin   May  12,  2015     In  full  swing  -­‐  French  music  festival  in  the  heart  of  the  Chicago  Symphony,  and  on  the  way  -­‐   a  new  holiday  for  lovers  of  the  Beautiful:  in  early  June  Norsbruke  (a  northern  suburb  of   Chicago)  held  fifth  anniversary,  the  International  Music  Festival  of  Chamber   Music  (North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival).  The  festival  was  created  in  2011  on  the   initiative  of  great  musicians  -­‐  violin  virtuoso  Vadim  Gluzman  (he  is  the  artistic  director  of   the  festival)  and  his  wife,  pianist  Angela  Yoffe  (she  is  the  Executive  Director).     In  the  book,  the  musicologist  Jean-­‐Michel  Molko  "Great  Violinists  of  the  Twentieth  Century,     Volume  2  "Vadim  Gluzman  has  been  named  among  the  thirty  greatest  violinists  of  our   time.  He  was  in  a  decent  company  with  Joshua  Bell,  Pinchas  Zukerman,  and  Hon  Hilary   Anne-­‐Sophie  Mutter.      Abstracting  from  the  incessant  touring  every  summer  violinist  

allocates  time  for  the  festival,  calling  it  "a  great  opportunity  to  meet  with  friends  in  chamber   music."    

  During  the  first  four  years  of  concerts  of  the  festival  was  attended  by  over  five  thousand  two   hundred  people  from  Chicago  and  one  hundred  forty  settlements  around  the  city.     Every  year  since  the  first  festival,  the  concerts  are  broadcast  live  on  the  biggest  wave  in   Chicago  classical  music  -­‐  radio  station  98.7WFMT.  There  will  be  no  exception  this  year's   festival.      Concerts  3  and  5  June  broadcast  live  concert  on  June  6  will  be  recorded  and  played   back  in  the  recording.  Leading  all  the  concerts  -­‐  Dave  Schwan.     Among  the  participants  of  the  festival  -­‐  a  string  quartet  "Ariel"(Israel),  pianist  William   Wolfram  and  Angela  Yoffe,  Vadim  Gluzman  and  violinists  Ilya  Kaler,   Professor  Jakob  school  of  music  at  Indiana  University,  violist  Atar  Arad,  concertmaster  of   clarinets  Symphony  Orchestra  of  San  Antonio  (Texas)  Ilya  Shterenberg  very  young  talents  -­‐   thirteen  Masha  Lakisova  and  Ellie  Choi  (Haag  /  Galvin  Young  Artists).     The  range  of  music  performed,  as  always,  is  huge  -­‐  from  Bach  to  Schnittke,  from  Vivaldi  to   Golihova.  Before  you  -­‐  some  details  of  the  upcoming  concerts.    

    June  3rd,  6.00  pm.  The  festival  will  open  a  special  presentation  of  the  "New  Generation",   which  act  young,  talented  musicians  of  Chicago  and  the  suburbs.  Admission  is  free  for  those   who  purchased  tickets  for  the  evening  concert  at  7.30  pm.     June  3rd,  7.30  pm.  Despite  the  title  of  the  opening  concert  of  the  festival  -­‐  "Tchaikovsky   back"  -­‐  in  the  evening's  program  not  only  works  of  the  great  Russian  composer.  The  concert   opens  Suite  in  the  Old  Style  by  Alfred  Schnittke.  Soloists:  Ilya  Kaler,  violin,  Vadim  Gluzman,   violin;  Jan  Gruening,  viola;  Mark  Kosover,  cello.  The  second  quartet  ("Razumovsky")  L.  van   Beethoven  will  be  performed  by  the  String  Quartet  "Ariel",  and  in  the  finale  of  Tchaikovsky's   turn  comes  up.  Piano  Trio  will  perform  the  composer  William  Wolfram,  piano;  Vadim   Gluzman,  violin;  Mark  Kosover,  cello.  In  his  book  "TheIvory  Trade  "musicologist  Joseph   Horowitz  compares  with  Van  Cliburn  Wolfram  and  Vladimir  Horowitz,  as  a  successor  to  the   romantic  tradition  of  piano  playing.     June  5,  6.00  pm.  "The  art  of  playing  in  the  quartet"  -­‐  the  so-­‐called  master-­‐class  of  the  String   Quartet  "Ariel".  Musicians  will  share  with  us  the  secrets  of  the  profession.  Admission  is  free   for  those  who  have  tickets  for  the  evening  concert  at  7.30  pm.     June  5,  7.30  pm.  The  second  concert  of  the  festival  is  called  "Dreams,  prayers  and  dancing   ...".  We  are  waiting  for  a  lot  of  interesting!  Program:  Chaconne  for  Violin  and  Piano  by  JS   Bach  (Vadim  Gluzman,  violin;  Angela  Yoffe,  piano),  Osvaldo  Golihova  essay  "Dreams  and   prayers  of  Isaac  the  Blind"  for  clarinet  and  string  quartet  (Ilya  Shterenberg,  Clarinet,  String   Quartet  "Ariel  "),  Piano  Quintet  in  E  Flat  Major  Schumann  (William  Wolfram,  piano,  Vadim   Gluzman,  violin,  Lisa  Shihoten,  violin,  Atar  Arad,  viola;  Mark  Kosover,  cello).  The  works  of   one  of  the  most  interesting  contemporary  composers  Osvaldo  Golihova  not  often  heard  in   Chicago.  He  was  born  into  a  Jewish  family  in  the  Catholic  Argentina,  studied  in  Israel  and   now  lives  in  America.  Actively  working  in  the  opera,  symphony  and  chamber  genres.    

After  the  "main  menu"  concert  -­‐  wonderful  "dessert":  Polka  Alfred  Schnittke,  Shostakovich   Waltz  and  Tango  A.Pyatstsoly.  This  final  night,  I'm  sure  no  one  can  remain  indifferent!    

    June  6,  7.30  pm.  The  final  concert  of  the  festival.  Program:  Suite  for  Clarinet  and  Piano   F.Buzoni  (Ilya  Shterenberg,  clarinet,  William  Wolfram,  piano),  String  Quartet  in  G  Minor  by   Mozart  (Vadim  Gluzman,  violin,  Lisa  Shihoten,  violin,  Atar  Arad,  viola;  Yang  Gruening  ,  viola;   Mark  Kosover,  cello),  "Four  Seasons"  by  Vivaldi  (violinists  Vadim  Gluzman,  Ilya   Kaler,  Masha  Lakisova  and  Ellie  Choi;  String  Quartet  "Ariel";  David  Schrader,  harpsichord),   Concerto  for  four  violins  by  Vivaldi  (  Vadim  Gluzman  violinists  Ilya  Kaler,Masha  Lakisova   and  Ellie  Choi;  String  Quartet  "Ariel";  New  Generation  Ensemble).    

 

 

Nota  bene!  Concerts  Fifth  International  Music  Festival  of  Chamber   Music  (North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival)  will  be  3,  5  and  6  June   in  Village  Presbyterian  Church  at  1300Shermer  Road,  Northbrook,  IL  60062.  Season   tickets  and  single  tickets  for  concerts  of  the  festival  can  be  purchased  by  calling  847-­‐ 370-­‐3984,  by  e-­‐mail  office  @  nscmf.  Org,  by   mail  (North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival,  P.  O.  Box  85,Northbrook,  IL  60065)  and  on   the  website  http:  //  www.  Nscmf.  Org  /,  where  you  will  find  detailed  information   about  the  history  of  the  festival  and  the  upcoming  concerts.There  are  discounts  for   students  when  buying  tickets.  See  you  at  the  festival!    

The  Wilmette  Beacon   World-­‐renowned  violinist  to  play  North  Shore  Chamber   Music  Festival  

  Ilya  Kaler,  a  Wilmette  resident  and  one  of  the  most  outstanding  personalities  of  the  violin  today,  will   perform  on  June  3  and  June  6  at  the  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  in  Northbrook.    

  Eric  DeGrechie,  Editor   11:23  am  CDT  May  27,  2015   Share  +   When  you’re  a  famous  violinist  sought  after  by  music  festivals  around  the  world,  especially   in  the  summer,  it  can  be  difficult  finding  much  time  to  be  near  home.     Such  is  the  case  for  Ilya  Kaler,  a  Wilmette  resident  since  2006,  who  is  one  of  the  most   outstanding  personalities  of  the  violin  today.  The  Russian-­‐born  violinist  will  be  performing   at  the  fifth  annual  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  in  Northbrook,  which  runs  from   June  3  through  June  6  at  The  Village  Presbyterian  Church.     -­‐  See  more  at:  http://www.wilmettebeacon.com/world-­‐renowned-­‐violinist-­‐play-­‐north-­‐ shore-­‐chamber-­‐music-­‐festival#sthash.EtKasls3.dpuf  

WILMETTE  BEACON  

‘Without  music,  life  would  be  a  mistake’  

  Eric  DeGrechie,  Editor   10:23  am  CDT  June  9,  2015   Share  +   This  might  be  the  first  time  I’ve  ever  quoted  Friedrich  Nietzsche  in  a  column  or  editorial,   which  is  surprising  considering  all  of  the  interesting  things  the  German  philosopher  said   during  his  lifetime.     I’ve  never  been  much  of  a  musician.  I  tried  to  teach  myself  guitar  many  years  ago.  I  bought   an  electric  guitar  at  a  garage  sale  along  with  an  instructional  CD.  Unfortunately,  I  didn’t  have   the  discipline  to  learn  more  than  a  few  chords.  Looking  back,  I  wonder  if  things  would’ve   gone  differently  if  I  had  learned  from  an  instructor  testing  me.  I’ve  long  since  sold  the  guitar,   but  my  wife  recently  caught  me  looking  at  used  ones  online.     When  I  was  a  child,  I  always  asked  my  parents  for  drums,  but  they  were  having  none  of  it.   They  mostly  feared  that  I  would  be  keeping  them  and  my  younger  sisters  awake  with  all  of   the  thrashing  and  pounding.  In  retrospect,  I’m  sure  they  probably  would’ve  been  right.     Despite  my  inability  to  play  music,  I’ve  always  appreciated  it.  Rock  is  my  favorite  genre,  but   I  really  love  everything.     The  Wilmette/Kenilworth  community  is  filed  with  talented  musicians  as  evidenced  by  the   various  people  we’ve  written  stories  on  in  recent  weeks.  One  of  my  favorites  appeared  in   the  May  21  edition.  Assistant  Editor  Christa  Rooks  told  the  story  of  Wilmette  mother  Katy   Cox,  who  released  her  first  album  last  month.  The  43-­‐year-­‐old  mother  began  taking  singing   lessons  at  the  age  of  11,  participated  in  musicals  while  in  high  school  and  majored  in  theater   at  the  University  of  Notre  Dame.  Soon  thereafter,  she  decided  to  pursue  law  and  put  any   musical  dreams  on  hold.  That  all  changed  a  few  years  ago  when  she  started  performing  her   own  music  and  eventually  released  the  new  album.  

A  few  weeks  ago,  I  spoke  with  Wilmette  resident  Ilya  Kaler.  The  Russian-­‐born  violinist   performed  at  the  North  Shore  Chamber  Music  Festival  at  the  beginning  of  the  month.  A   violin  professor  at  DePaul  University’s  School  of  Music,  Kaler  is  the  only  violinist  to  ever  win   gold  medals  at  these  three  highly  prestigious  competitions:  the  International  Tchaikovsky   Competition  (Moscow,  1986),  the  Sibelius  (1985)  and  the  Paganini  (Genoa,  1981).  Speaking   with  a  world-­‐renowned  musician  was  especially  interesting  and  Kaler  graciously  gave  me   nearly  30  minutes  of  his  time.     “To  say  I  have  a  favorite  piece  to  play.  it’s  difficult  to  discern  which  one,”  said  Kaler,  who   was  performing  music  from  Busoni,  Mozart,  Vivaldi  and  Tchaikovsky  at  the  Northbrook   festival.  “Any  concert  performer  would  tell  you  that  your  favorite  pieces  is  the  one  you   perform  tonight.  It’s  like  food.  Sometimes  you  like  something  and  you  eat  it  maybe  for  a   while,  but  then  you  want  to  switch  it  up.”   This  week,  we  talked  to  Ari  Fisher,  the  2010  New  Trier  graduate  who  will  soon  be  scoring   his  second  silent  film,  “The  Return  of  Draw  Egan.”  As  a  freshman,  Fisher  won  a  pilot   program  in  which  he  fully  scored  music  for  the  silent  film,  “David  Copperfield.”  We  wrote  a   story  about  that  accomplishment  back  in  2011.  He  is  now  a  master’s  student  in  the   Composition  Department  at  Indiana  University.  Well,  you  can  flip  a  few  pages  and  find  out   more.     Are  you  a  musician  getting  ready  to  release  a  new  album  or  playing  a  concert  in  Wilmette  or   Kenilworth?  I  would  love  to  learn  more.  Please  email  me  at  [email protected].       -­‐  See  more  at:  http://www.wilmettebeacon.com/editor/%E2%80%98without-­‐music-­‐life-­‐ would-­‐be-­‐mistake%E2%80%99#sthash.P1lvKG7w.dpuf