Above the Staff Vol. 2009 No.4 Did you know: Prokofiev’s first opera, The Giant, was written when he was nine. Haydn survived small pox and suffered from nasal polyps for much of his adult life. Despite this, he wrote 104 Symphonies, 86 string quartets, 13 operas, 45 string trios and 62 piano sonata If you Google “Dvorak opera ‘King and Charcoal Burner’ performances”, the 49th entry is the Bellingham Festival of Music

Fourth Concert: July 15, 2009:
Haydn, Prokofiev, Dvorak

Once again Maestro Palmer presents three masterpieces one each from the 18th , 19th & 20th centuries. Haydn’s Symphony No 101 has been a staple of the symphonic repertoire since its premier in 1794. The review of the premier called Haydn “the inexhaustible, the wonderful, the sublime, Haydn” and the symphony was “pervaded with heartfelt joy.”

Joseph Haydn

Prokofiev wrote his first symphony. The Classical ”in an attempt to emulate Haydn’s composing style. He was studying conducting at the St. Petersburg Conservatory where his mentor prepared his students to conduct Haydn. There are no actual quotations of Haydn but has a neoclassical character reminiscent of Haydn. It is a popular piece made more familiar by use as TV background music.

Dvorak’s Cello Concerto was written while he was living in New York City in 1896 after hearing a Victor Herbert cello concerto. It’s first performance was in London played on the “General Kyd” Stradivarius cello, one of only 60 cellos made by him. Joshua Roman will be playing on a modern instrument, which he calls a wild horse, made in 1997 by Chicagoan, Peter Stazel, Brahms is reported as saying “Why on earth didn’t Iknow that one could write a cello concerto like this? If I had only known, I would have written one long ago!.”

Joshua Roman

Joshua Roman, Cello Wunderkind
Joshua Roman the youngest principal player in the history of the Seattle Symphony has been setting the classical music world ablaze with his riveting technical virtuosity and brilliant poetic intensity. His playing has attracted a rock-star following. Critics have praised him as “an extraordinary musical talent” and “one artist worth making many long journeys for” and “a musician of imagination and expressive breadth.” Whew!

 

BFOM first-ever grant from NEA! For the first time in its 16-year history, the Bellingham Festival of Music was awarded a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, a powerful endorsement of the quality and significance of the Festival. Bravo!