In the SPOTLIGHT: Victor Shlyakhtenko

SAVE the DATES for February and March 2017:
The month of February will take us to UCLA's Freud Playhouse for "Cendrillon" by Jules Massenet. Libretto by Henri Cain, based on the fairytale by Charles Perrault. This opera is co-produced with the Department of Theater.
Based on a well know fairy tale Cinderella, this opera in 4 acts, was first performed in 1899 at the Theatre National de l'Opera Comique.
For a full libretto, main characters, dance numbers, and music, go to OPERATODAY and search for titles of specific operas, like Jules Massenet's Cendrillon.
WHEN: Sunday February 19th at 2 PM. $25.00, tickets at 310.825.2101

One more outstanding event:
WATCH THE MOSTER STORM splashes down on LA today from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Friday February 17th at Royce Hall (8:00 pm)
Bamberg Symphony with its origins as the German Philharmonia, goes back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Mozart's Don Giovanni Overture, premiered 29 October 1787 in Prague by the National Theater (of Bohemia); Mozart entered the work in his catalog as an opera buffa.

Max Bruch composed his violin concerto (No. 1 op. 26 in G minor) in 1886; the work was dedicated to violinist virtuoso Joseph Joachim. Gustav Mahler conducted the orchestra in 1885-1886. The San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas produced an excellent presentation in KEEPING SCORE (PBS).

The following text is taken given below from Wikipedia:
The first movement (of the Bruch's violin concerto) is unusual in that it is a Vorspiel, a prelude, to the second movement and is directly linked to it. The piece starts off slowly, with the melody first taken by the flutes, and then the solo violin becomes audible with a short cadenza. This repeats again, serving as an introduction to the main portion of the movement, which contains a strong first theme and a very melodic, and generally slower, second theme. The movement ends as it began, with the two short cadenzas more virtuosic than before, and the orchestra's final tutti flows into the second movement, connected by a single low note from the first violins.

The slow second movement is often admired for its melody, and is generally considered to be the heart of the concerto. The themes, presented by the violin, are underscored by a constantly moving orchestra part, keeping the movement alive and helping it flow from one part to the next.

The third movement, the finale, opens with an intense, yet quiet, orchestral introduction that yields to the soloist's statement of the energetic theme in brilliant double stops. It is very much like a dance that moves at a comfortably fast and energetic tempo. The second subject is a fine example of Romantic lyricism, a slower melody which cuts into the movement several times, before the dance theme returns with its fireworks. The piece ends with a huge accelerando, leading to a fiery finish that gets higher as it gets faster and louder and eventually concludes with two short, yet grand, chords.

Tonight's concert closes with L. van Beethoven's Third Symphony "EROICA" We as a Music Section group had the entire session dedicated to this Symphony in 2016.

Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E flat Major "EROICA"

Check UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance CAP UCLA for calendar of programs.

Bamberg Symphony

The Bamberg Symphony, founded in 1946, was formed from German musicians expelled from Czechoslovakia.

MARCH 2017

This month brings old masters and new multi-sensory musical experiences. Jocelyn Ho, in the photo below, will perform six piano pieces at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall on Friday, March 2-3, 2017.

Jocelyn Ho, Assistant Professor, UCLA

Another interesting avant-gard experience is the UCLA Game Lab, which strives to develop new modes of expression and form through gaming. Take a look at some of the "disruptive borderlands" by Prof. Eddo Stern and other projects by faculty and students.

Get ready for a special treat on March 15th at 12:30 PM.
The Program: We will enjoy music by Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
Our hostess and the lead will be Jarka Wilcox
To prepare you for this event, you may want to explore some among numerous excellent sources on Dvorak. I offer just a few links for biography, photos, and discography.
RSVP and volunteer with refreshments for March 15.

Antonin Leopold Dvorak (1841-1904)

Faculty Women's Club MUSIC SECTION has started off the New Year 2017, and our Centennial Year (1918-2018) with a brilliant young pianist Victor Shlyakhtenko, 14, who has been studying piano since the age of five.

Victor Shlyakhtenko
THE PROGRAM :
Toccata in E minor, BWV 914 by J.S. Bach
Tarantella from Venezia e Napoli by Franz Liszt
Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI:52 by F. J. Haydn
Chorphantasie Op. 80 by L. van Beethoven
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 by Liszt
 Piano Concerto No.21 in C major, K. 467 by W. A. Mozart
Sonata, Op. 26 by S. Barber

The intimate setting of the piano recital afforded the opportunity to interact with Victor, and the audience took advantage of our event: to ask questions, network, and listen to the great music.

Music Section group with Victor in the center of the photo, January 18, 2017
Thank You, Victor, for taking the time to perform for us !

QA time: our attendees had lots of questions, and Victor had so much to offer ranging from a masterful interpretation of his repertory to anecdotes, and brief commentaries.

Victor in the spotlight: too many important questions to ask
From left: Francois and Arlene, our hostesses converse with Victor

Victor with Zorana, founder and chair of the FWC Music Section

In the intimate setting of the private residence in Santa Monica, Victor gave generous time to chat with many members of the Music Section as well as invited guests.

Music Section member Olga Merkurev and Victor: old friends
Kudos to Olga who presented Victor to the Music Section attendees

Victor talks with Milos Ercegovac during the concert intermission
ART MEETS COMPUTER SCIENCE