December 6, 2008
Rose Ensemble Brings the Cheer
Lane Series favorite vocal group The Rose Ensemble wowed a sold-out audience December 6 with a program of Mexican Baroque and Early American vocal music. It felt like greeting old friends who had arrived for the holidays - old friends who then, like last year, went on to give us an evening of pure enchantment.
Here's what Artistic Director Jordan Sramek had to say about their visit:
There are certain times for The Rose Ensemble when we're on the road and things simply go well. One can imagine, traveling with 15 musicians, a zillion instruments and three minivans can add some 'dys' to an otherwise functional family. But thankfully, even considering most of us got to bed around 2:30am on Friday, we knew things in Burlington were going to go well. (I should mention here that the accommodations at the Green Mountain Suites were exceptional.)
We were taken by pleasant surprise when we arrived at VPR in the morning. Our understanding was that we were going to do a short radio spot with a small live studio audience: a little something to promote the concert we would give later in the evening at UVM. Well, it ended up being a live concert in front of almost 200 people! And what a wonderful event it was. Such a warm reception we were given by the folks at VPR and the very friendly audience...
Our evening concert was one of those that will remain in The Rose Ensemble's collective memory for a long time. There was an undeniable connection with the audience - one of those performances that makes you smile when you recall it. Jane Ambrose has already asked us to return in 2010 and we can't wait.
Dinner after the concert was enjoyed by several of us at a great place called American Flatbread. We had gone there last year, and while it is so loud that you have to shout to be heard, the fantastic food, service and brew list is worth it. Beth, one of the servers, actually recognized us from last year (is that a good or bad thing?) and we enjoyed running into some concert-goers with whom we chatted for quite some time.
On the way out of town (heading for the Berkshires) we stopped by what we now refer to as "food paradise" (known to denizens of Burlington as Healthy Living Natural Foods Market). Two words: bulk kombucha.
Some of the members of our merry band have decided that we're all moving to Vermont. Personally speaking, it was when the gal at the checkout referred to herself as a "Vermonster" that I decided I was moving to Burlington. I just have to figure out how long the broccoli-growing season is…
Jordan Sramek, The Rose Ensemble
Mark Dietrich (bass) and Lane Series Director Jane Ambrose catch up before Friday evening's performance:
Until their next appearance, visit their website to get one of their CDs or to see lots more information and photos: roseensemble.org.
Posted by lane at 9:39 AM | Comments (32)
November 21, 2008
Mahan Esfahani
Wednesday, November 19, brought hardworking Mahan Esfani to the Recital Hall for an outstanding evening of harpsichord and organ music.
In the pre-concert talk, Esfahani wore blue knit gloves to warm his fingers and took questions from the audience. The 24-year-old defended his choice of harpsichord as the “instrument of will.” He pointed out that composers and audiences in the 17th century not only had emotions but composed and performed emotionally. He related it to listening to an old recording on a 78 record or cylinder and maintained “there’s something about hearing the music exactly like it sounded in the 17th century that evokes a visceral response. The artist went on to discuss the composers on the program, asserting that “Bach is the composer that, if you spent your whole life studying his music, it would be a life well spent.”
He made three converts sitting next to me, and I suspect they weren’t the only ones in the nearly-sold-out audience. After expressing mutual dislike for harpsichord music, they reluctantly agreed to keep an open mind. By intermission they were completely won over. Esfahani was right – it is emotional and dynamic music, beautifully executed on a very special instrument.
This concert was the harpsichord’s public debut. It is a double manual German style after M. Mietke (1702 – 1704), made by Bruce Kennedy and generously provided by owner Philip Ambrose.
Click here for some in-depth program notes written by Esfahani and provided for the concert.
After a Bach Toccata, the second half was devoted to the UVM Recital Hall organ and included works by Henry Purcell, John Blow and Charles Racquet.
What did you think of the concert?
What's your opinion of the harpsichord?
Posted by lane at 12:21 PM | Comments (6)