February, 2006 - Nr. 2
Concerts with Germans in mind
Off Centre Music Salon made a most unusual choice for a salon experience in the Mozart month of January. The German Salon featured Musicists and Physicists - A tribute to Albert Einstein.
You might wonder why Einstein? So did I. As far as I could recall it was not a significant birthday or other date to commemorate him by. He was born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879 and left this place on April 18, 1955 and baffled the world enough to make certain that someone would be interested in studying his brain to explore why he was apparently a Nobel Prize winning genius.
And it is exactly what happened after a welcoming address by the Off Centre President David S. Goldbloom. Host Stuart Hamilton, with his marvellous sense of humour, interviewed a McMaster University Professor, Dr. Sandra Witelson, who, as he puts it "is in charge of Einstein’s brain". We learned that Albert’s left lobe was particularly well developed and that is why he was so musical. We never learned if the other lobe was also well developed and responsible for his mathematical genius. Probably it must have been so, because if I compare that with my father, who was by no means Nobel Prize material, but never-the-less extremely talented in both music and math, I can only come to the conclusion that both Albert and my father were two horned wonders, except my father appears to have been more harmonious in nature, being born in the sign of Aquarius instead of Pisces, like Einstein.
But seriously, I like to think that not all answers can be found in the study of the brain but in the discovery of what really makes up a being other then his body parts. Having been born a Jew he was not practising this or any other religion, yet he pointed out that he was forever looking and admiring the structure of this universe and what made it work the way it does. Somewhere I read that religion is but a search for truth. I would think this means not a restricted partial truth, but truth across the board; and if that is what he was looking for, then he was religious indeed.
About music he had this to say: "If I were not a physicist I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. It is my violin that brings me the greatest pleasure in life."
And thus we have the means to cross from mathematics to music, the music Einstein loved, like W.A. Mozart’s - HA, a Mozart tribute! - in form of a sonata for violin and piano. Michail Gantvarg proved to be an extraordinary violin virtuoso in this presentation as well as throughout the entire evening. He sparkled with precision and emotional output. He mastered even the most difficult passages with an astounding ease, weather he was playing Mozart, Bach’s Charconne from Partita No. 2 in B Minor or the Franz Schubert Duo in A Major for violin and piano, where his counterpart was the very able Boris Zarankin.
Piano with 4 hands has always fascinated people and this occasion was no different. Inna Perkins and Boris Zarankin let their fingers dance across the ivories in two Hungarian Dances by Brahms, and they also accompanied a young baritone, Jason Nedecky, with some lovely Brahms lieder. He also sang a few Schubert Lieder, including Der Neugierige from the Schoene Muellerin.
The impressive performance on a Sunday afternoon in the fabulous Glenn Gould Studio ended with J.S. Bach’s "Erbarme Dich, mein Gott" from the The Passion according to Saint Matthew. Helene Couture ’s mezzo-soprano skilfully emoted the famous passage.
The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany was thanked for generously supporting Off Centre’s annual German Salon.
To learn more about this unique way off experiencing art in
a cultured setting like a European salon of times gone by visit
www.offcentremusic.com. The
next event is a Russian Salon on March 5th with the collaboration
of the famous Kirov Theatre.
Hansa House goes Classic
While the German Salon was about German artistry and know-how, this concert in the German Canadian Club Hansa was for Germans, or to be more precise, members of the club and their friends.
The
event was created by Walter Kornelson, born an Austrian, living in Canada.
He is the President of Orion House, an artist management firm. The Hansa
Club asked him many moons ago if he could produce an afternoon of classical
music for and in the club and the answer was of course yes. Right to the
last day before the announced and advertised afternoon in January there were
changes needed, because artists who have a choice to perform in a club or
give a concert in China for mega bucks will of course opt for the latter,
understandably so. Thus a few of the announced artists had to be replaced
last second. Luckily this did not prove much of a problem for Mr. Kornelson,
who also served as the impresario in this instant and narrated the event
with much insight and a love for music. He appeared pleased to be able to
bring this special music to this special audience and introduce a few of his
artists to us, as well as some that are not on his roster, the ones there
are were immediately standing out with great stage presence and talent.
Douglas
Tranquada’s rich baritone voice was most pleasing and humorous in arias such
as Mozart’s "Der Vogelhaendler bin ich, ja"- Yes, here too was a tribute to
Mozart!-and arias from the compositions of Rossini, or Webber’s Phantom. He
knew how to please and play to an afternoon crowd at a club.
Michael Toby, tenor, was a last minute replacement. He
mostly sang the unfamiliar arias from sheet music, but his diction was
immaculate and no one would have guessed that he was just stepping in less
than a week before the event. He garnered huge rounds of a
pplause
singing Lehars "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" from Land des Laechelns and "Nessun
Dorma" from Puccini’s Turandot.
Wendy Dobson, one of Orion’s special artists was very
professional and confident with her arias, which is no surprise. Her
experience has her singing all over Germany and Austria in just these
beloved parts of Lustige Witwe and Tosca. Her soprano has a wide
range
she commandeers with ease.
Another soprano, Marianne Zin –Orlowski, did well when she did not have to hit the very high notes. In the upper register she did not always manage perfect pitch but had the courage to carry on and deliver what was promised. We imagine she was somewhat indisposed.
The Phantom
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A
very young 19 year old Antonella Cavallaro with a lovely voice that can
develop into quite something special was called a songbird by the audience.
She delighted with an aria from Die Fledermauss by Strauss and "Vilja" from
Die lustige Witwe by Lehar.
In
he last part of the concert Christina Natolina lent her crystal clear voice
to songs from the Phantom and "Edelweiss", which of course was a crowd
pleaser in this setting.
The
audience rewarded the artist’s efforts with much applause and even a
standing ovation. Folks were quite delighted to have the classics coma
again, as they used to, the club at least once a year, and they are hoping
to come again for just such an occasion. They found it most uplifting.
European Lounge
The Delta Chelsea Inn Downtown Toronto hosted its second European Lounge and thus introduced a variety of organisations to the culture, art and products of European countries. This time the exhibits had grown by a few countries and also more guests could be welcomed. We carried away bags full of tourist brochures from every country imaginable for future reference, enjoyed titbits of delectable food samples from all sorts of countries, marvelled at a dessert buffet without compare anywhere, and delighted in cultural and artistic performances by all sorts of artists representing the different cultures. There were dancers from Ireland and Cyprus, an Italian popular singer and others; and of course also an Austrian representation. It would have been impossible not to honour Wolfgang Amadeus. And who did the honours/? Our beloved Ursula Ivanoffski, who I had not heard or seen personally in a few years! I can safely say that she has not changed a bit! She still looks as lovely as ever and sings like a bird, accompanied by her very professional husband on the piano.
Geisterblitze
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There also were a few artistic displays. We noticed especially the lighting design by Mervi Haapakoski of Finland, who lives with her husband Fidel Perez in Toronto. Mervi has a degree in Art and Design from the University in Helsinki and her sculpted light spheres are something special to behold. Whether she creates a big chandelier for a big space that looks like a waterfall of cascading crystals, or a cosmic egg to sit on a surface or be attached to a wall, her work is extraordinary decorative and of very high quality. The couple’s designs are suitable for industrial or private spaces, and they are definitely always art, not a utility. You can reach them under 416-536-8287 at their studio Geisterblitz or email them tikru@sympatico.ca This was yet anther marvellous Delta event with a useful purpose, also raising money for charity. When art and commerce cooperate this is a better place to live!
Comments to: sfr@echoworld.com
