Worlds Colliding Letter from the Artistic Directors

Hello Friends,

The second concert, Worlds Colliding, in our new home at Nazareth features two substantial works, one familiar while the other is completely new to our audience. The concert opens with a piece from Octavio Vazquez, Associate Professor of Composition at Nazareth College School of Music. Written in 2002 for violist Viacheslav Dinerchtein, his Sonata for Viola and Piano was one of the winning pieces at the Prokofiev International Competition in St. Petersburg in 2003, where it was performed by Vladimir Bistritsky of the Nevsky String Quartet. The piece was also premiered in New York later that same year at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, by Mr. Dinerchtein himself and renowned pianist Eldar Nebolsin. Described by New York critic Mark Greenfest as “...a Sephardic Kol-Nidre...a full spectrum of emotion...not for the faint hearted”, at the core of the piece are the events that took place in Europe in the 1940’s, especially the Holocaust. Ulrike and Theodor Nüßlein gave the European premiere in Amsterdam in March 2006.

After what promises to be a spellbinding performance of the Vazquez, RPO principal violist, Aaron Mossburg and pianist Miri Yampolsky will be joined by colleagues on the second half for Brahms’ quintessential Piano Quintet in F minor, Op.34. We are especially pleased to be joined on this concert by Miri Yampolsky, who when not teaching at Cornell is performing concerts around the world. This quintet is often referred to as the “crown of Brahms’ chamber music” and will surely be one of our season highlights.

The concert will be preceded by a performance of Charles Gounod’s Petite Symphonie by Nazareth College Chamber Winds, conducted by Jared Chase. We are so pleased to feature these students as we expand our partnership with Nazareth by providing new experiences to grow chamber music at the school. We are also excited and honored that Nazareth College President Elizabeth Paul will offer some comments at the start of the concert.

Please note, the pre-concert chat begins earlier than usually on 11/14 at 3:20, followed by the Nazareth College Chamber Winds performance at 3:35. The concert begins at 4:00. Our COVID policy requires all audience members to be vaccinated and wear a mask. (We will be checking proof of vaccination at the door.) All musicians will be vaccinated.

Look forward to seeing you soon!

Warmly,
Juliana Athayde and Erik Behr
Artistic Directors

PS: This season, we will perform live and in person and tickets are available. Each concert will also be recorded and shared online at a later date. Please click here for dates and details.