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Event
Augusta Symphony Orchestra Fall Concert
Amy Beach (1867-1944) was a child prodigy and musical genius, performing instrumental music as a toddler and composing by age 5. Her family moved to Boston from N.H. in her early years, and she began her professional career as a concert pianist while still in her teens. At age 18, she developed a hand injury and consulted Dr. H.H.A. Beach (20+ years older) and shortly after was married! Complying with the wishes of her husband, she limited her public performances, and concentrated on writing music for the duration of her marriage.
While she had only one year of formal training in the field, she soon was recognized as one of America's top composers, producing a remarkable quantity and variety of music. She was the first American woman to compose a symphony and the first woman composer whose works were performed by many of the major orchestras in the U.S., including the Boston Symphony. Beach explored virtually all forms of musical composition, from the largest (Mass with orchestra, symphony, piano concerto, oratorios) through chamber music (piano quintet, trio, one-act opera) to art-songs, character-pieces for violin and numerous works for piano. The Piano Concerto in C sharp Minor, Op. 45 was composed in 1898-99, and first performed in Boston in April 1900, with the composer as soloist playing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This is her only piano concerto.
We are especially fortunate to hear Ms. Eskin performing tonight, for she is both a scholar and promoter of Ms. Beach's works. Ms. Eskin has written that Beach did not believe in an "Americanist" school, but in a "universal style freely drawing on the musical tradition of all European countries."
Pianist Virginia Eskin, a California native but long-time Bostonian, has performed with many professional orchestras from the east coast to San Francisco, including the Boston Pops. She has also been a soloist with the New York City and Boston Ballet Companies, and given concerts all over US and Europe, including the Morgan Library in New York and Jordan Hall in Boston. Her connection with Augusta stems from her long-time collaboration with the Portland String Quartet, for which our Conductor, Paul Ross was founding cellist, and with whom she has both recorded a Dvorak Piano Quintet, and played the Amy Beach Quintet. She last performed with the ASO in 2013 (Mozart Piano Concerto #20).
Ms. Eskin is a remarkably versatile solo pianist and chamber player, skilled at both the Classical repertoire and Ragtime. Recent career highlights include a recital tour of Croatia, a presentation of works by African American women composers at Boston University, AND a recital at the U.S. embassy in Madrid all in 2014. Known as a champion of the works of women composers, she premiered Vítezslava Kaprálová 's "Partita" with the Chamber Orchestra of Boston at Jordan Hall in 2009. Her list of recordings is long and varied, and includes a collection of Amy Beach pieces (though not this concerto). For a more detailed biography and discography go to www.virginiaeskin.com .
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Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) loved America. Already renowned as a composer who incorporates folk melodies into his works, his New World Symphony #9 does the same with both the tunes, and the sounds of a bustling young nation. Sure, we hear lines reminiscent of Spirituals and the energetic melodies of marching bands but also feel the acceleration of locomotives, the haunting beat of Native American drummers, and the dissonance of emerging industry. Dvorak was living in New York at the time of its writing in 1893, having been recruited to direct the National Conservatory of Music (now defunct). The piece premiered at Carnegie Hall to standing ovations after every movement.
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LocationHope Baptist Church (View)
726 Western Avenue
Manchester, ME 04351
United States
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| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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