Argenta Concert Series 2012-13
May 12, 2:00 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
Works by Schumann and Beethoven
The Argenta Trio is joined by maestro Theodore Kuchar on viola for our Second Season Finale. Robert Schumann's brilliant Piano Trio in F major, one of the happiest compositions by the composer, is infused with gorgeous sunny harmonies will enchant the audience in the first half of the program.
The piece de resistance will be Ferdinand Ries’ (Beethoven’s student and, later, private secretary) transcription for piano quartet of the Eroica Symphony, a work so rare it only exists in a handful of European libraries. We are presenting what is almost certainly a western U.S. premiere of the work.
September 8, 7:30 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
Works by Haydn, Golijov, and Schubert.
With two Grammy nominations, the St. Lawrence String Quartet has developed an undisputed reputation as a truly world class chamber ensemble. The quartet performs over 120 concerts annually worldwide and continues to build its fame for imaginative and spontaneous music-making, through an energetic commitment to the great established quartet literature as well as the championing of new works.
As the culmination of the evening, the St. Lawrence String Quartet will be joined by cellist Dmitri Atapine in a performance of Schubert's timeless Cello Quintet in C major. Other works on the program include Haydn's String Quartet Op. 76 no. 2 and the Nevada premiere of Osvaldo Golijov's "Kohelet", written specifically for the St. Lawrence String Quartet in 2011.
St. Lawrence Quartet provided a free, open to the public masterclass in Nightingale Concert Hall at 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm on the day of their performance.
October 7, 2:00 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
Works by Clara Schumann, Daron Aric Hagen, and Robert Schumann.
Argenta Trio presents its first performance of the season by contrasting two works in the genre by husband and wife Robert and Clara Schumann. A world of intimate thoughts, hidden passions, and ultimate romantic love surrounds the composition of Clara's Trio in G minor and Robert's First Trio in D minor for both pieces were written just a year apart. An intricate and delightful Trio by Daron Aric Hagen of 2007 subtitled "Angel Band" will act as a contemporary reflection on the genre and a pivot between the aforementioned compositions.
October 29, 7:30 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
Works by Bach-Busoni, Liszt and Charles Wuorinen.
Works by Bach-Busoni, Liszt, Wuorinen, and Messiaen.
UNR's master pianist Dr. James Winn presents an evening featuring works generated by religious sensibilities through the ages. In particular, the performance will conclude with Visions de l'amen by Olivier Messiaen, as UNR's new piano professor, Dr. Adela H. Park joins Dr. Winn in this 50-minute monumental seven-movment tour de force on two pianos. Setting the stage for this rarely performed wonder of 20th century literature the program will feature works by Bach-Busoni, Liszt and Charles Wuorinen.
November 30, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
The Mahler Project: Urlicht (Primal Light)
In the late 1990s, jazz pianist and composer Uri Caine was asked to score a film about the life of the early 20th century composer Gustav Mahler. To prepare for the project, Caine immersed himself in Mahler’s music, uncovering themes that lent themselves to improvisatory interpretation and to reinvention when fused with other musical styles. The project was recorded as Primal Light. A sensation on its release in 1998, Caine and his group have toured this music extensively throughout the world since then. Far from just being another attempt to ‘jazz up the classics’; Primal Light is an innovative adaptation of Mahler’s music that brings out aspects of these compositions that may not be apparent in the classical versions. The Uri Caine Ensemble features guest artists Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Clarence Penn (drums) , Drew Gress (Bass), Chris Speed (saxophones), and Josefina Vergara (violin).
This project is sponsored in part by the School of the Arts, the Department of Music, ASUN, and GSA.
December 9, 2:00 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
One of the most distinguished chamber musicians in the nation and principal violist of The Philadelphia Orchestra Choong-Jin (C.J.) Chang joins the Argenta Trio as the group completes its three-year survey of the piano quartets by Johannes Brahms with a rendition of the glorious Piano Quartet in A major, Op.26. As an ardent chamber musician, Mr. Chang has given recitals throughout the United States and Korea, and has performed in numerous chamber music festivals, including the Marlboro Festival, Bridgehampton, Seattle, and Santa Fe. The list of distinguished musicians with whom he has collaborated includes Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, Jaime Laredo, Andre Previn, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Yo-Yo Ma. Mr. Chang is also a founding member of the Johannes Quartet, one of the leading string quartets in the nation.
Other works include a Piano Trio by Haydn as well as the expressive Trio in G minor by Bedrich Smetana.
February 3, 2:00 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
Brahms: The Violin Sonatas
UNR's own Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio and Dr. James Winn present a journey through the sonatas for violin and piano of Johannes Brahms. Considered among the most distinguished works for this instrumental combination, the three sonatas showcase the composer's amazing range of expression and breadth of vision, while treating these most intimate of forces. A survey that will take the listener through the naiveté and fleeting declarations of the first sonata, the luminosity and charm of the second sonata, and the outbursts and lyrical passion of the third sonata. Brahms' early Sonatensatz scherzo will serve as youthful and energetic addition.
February 15, 7:30 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
Join legendary composer and School of the Arts Artist in Residence Terry Riley, as we embark on the exploration of the hauntingly beautiful and transcendent Minimalist movement in music. This originally American phenomenon in experimental classical music of the mid-to-late 20th century has become one of the most important contributions to the musical sound-scape of our times, spreading all across the globe and influencing the widest variety of musical genres and creations, from experimental rock to movie soundtracks. Terry Riley is widely considered among the pioneers of the movement, almost single-handedly bringing it to audience's attention with his revolutionary classic In C of 1964, an evocative, almost hypnotic aural journey. This evening the magical journey of In C will be recreated on Nightingale's stage, providing a unique window into the mind and soul of one of the defining figures of 20th century artistic identity, a personality that changed the course of musical history, the composer Terry Riley.
March 10, 2:00 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
Two guest artists join us on March 10th for an evening of musical fireworks, including works by Aaron Copland and Robert Schumann.
Violinist Jorja Fleezanis, currently professor of violin and chair in orchestral studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, has been the longest concertmaster in history of the Minnesota Orchestra (1989-2009) and only the second woman in the U.S. to hold the title of concertmaster in a major orchestra when appointed. Her remarkable career has taken her all around the world; she has been featured on innumerable recordings, and premiered countless works by leading composers, among them John Adams' Violin Concerto. She has taught and given masterclasses at such institutions as the Juilliard School, the Boston Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, and University of California, Davis.
Violinist and violist Yura Lee, recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2007, is on faculty of the Longy School of Music of Bard College and is one of the most in-demand artists of today. She has performed as a soloist with New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra, to name but a few. She has been nominated and represented by Carnegie Hall for its European Concert Hall Organization Series, performing recitals in the leading concert halls of Europe. At age 12, Ms. lee became the youngest artist ever to receive the Debut Artist of the Year prize at the NPR's "Performance Today" awards, and has since been a prizewinner at numerous international competitions.
April 13, 7:30 p.m.
Nightingale Concert Hall
New UNR voice faculty, Dr. Albert Lee (tenor), will join Dmitri Atapine and Adela H. Park in an evening of vocal music. Stay tuned for a detailed program.
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