The Poulenc Trio
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THE POULENC TRIO Vladimir Lande, oboe 2:30 PM, October 11, 2009 Faye Spanos Concert Hall Irena Kaplan, piano In cooperation with Pacific’s Bryan Young, bassoon Conservatory of Music Trio Pathétique in D Minor Mikhail Glinka Allegro moderato (1804–1857) Scherzo: Vivacissimo—Trio: Meno mosso Largo Allegro con spirito—Alla breve, ma moderato Fantaisie Concertante Gioachino Rossini sur des Thèmes de “L’Italiana in Algeri” (1792–1868) (Arr. Charles Triébert & Eugene Jancourt) Romance, Op. 97a Dmitri Shostakovich (from the filmscore of “The Gadfly”) (1906–1975) A Spin Through Moscow Shostakovich (from the suite from the operetta “Moscow, Cheryomushki,” Op. 105) –intermission– Trio for Piano, Oboe and Bassoon Francis Poulenc Presto: Lento—Presto (1899–1963) Andante Rondo: Très vif Jaunty André Previn (from Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano) (b. 1929) Oblivion Astor Piazzolla (from the filmscore of Pirandello’s play “Enrico IV”) (1921–1992) Otoño Porteño Piazzolla (from Las Cuatro estaciónes porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires)) The Poulenc Trio appears by arrangement with Lisa Sapinkopf Artists www.chambermuse.com Artists Pianist Irina Kaplan is a graduate of the piece based on tunes from Rossini’s “An Hailed by the Washington Post for its St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia. Italian Girl in Algiers,” which he wrote when “intriguing and beautifully played program . Winner of the Baltimore Chamber Music only 21 in either 18 or 27 days depending . convincing elegance . [and] near- Award and the Montpelier Recital Compe- on whom you believe1. The opera’s theme is effortless lightness and grace," the Poulenc tition, Irina has appeared in series including simple: be careful what you wish for! Bored Trio brings together three uniquely gifted the Yale Gordon Concert Series, the with his harem, ruler Mustafà seeks a new virtuosos. Combining brilliant 21st-century Bachanalia Recital Series and the New York challenge in the beautiful, shipwrecked vibrancy with the best of European instru- Times Young Performers Series. Irina is on Isabella, who has comically stumbled into mental tradition, the trio’s performances the piano faculty at the Peabody Institute. his path in search of her missing lover, and leap beyond the ordinary concert expe- Program the addition of a jealous wife and a cast of rience to a world of beautiful sonorities, meddling servants allow Rossini opportunity playful rhythms and dramatic excitement. As Glinka—Trio Pathétique in d for limitless, escalating, ebullient melodies the finest of a select few professional wind Mikhail Glinka was the first Russian to that we enjoy in a chamber format today. create chamber music based on Russian trios, the Poulenc Trio is committed to Shostakovich—Romance, Op. 97a expanding the repertoire through commis- folk melodies and is commonly thought of Shostakovich endured alternating periods sioning new works. The Trio's busy touring as the founder of Russian nationalism in of honor and rejection by the Soviet schedule has included recent tours of music. This is evidenced by his influence on government. During a time of disgrace (and Russia with Hilary Hahn, Italy, the the works of Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin and reduced income), he turned to writing Caribbean, and multiple appearances in Mussorgsky. He was an amateur musician scores for films, which he seemed to enjoy every region of the United States including until at the age of 26 he visited Italy and completing 34. The Gadfly Suite, music the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Germany where he completed his first written for the film of the same name is a The Trio has garnered positive attention in formal study of composition. His Trio collection of twelve short pieces of which recent profiles in Chamber Music Magazine Pathétique was written after he embarked Romance, the most popular, is the eighth. and the Double Reed Journal. The group on his travels but before he completed his The title is a name by which the historical has been called "virtuosos of classical and studies, so listen for a combination of exotic freedom-fighter Arthur Burton became contemporary chamber music" in one profile and traditional. Originally written for clarinet, known because of his "sting" as a on Russian television, and reviews from bassoon and piano, Glinka’s publisher revolutionary activist in Italy in 1840. He across the USA have praised the Trio’s insisted on a string version for standard alludes to Tchaikovsky, Sibelius and others “new and delicious sounds,” calling them piano trio with which he complied and which throughout the score, thereby limiting his “three virtuosi in complete command of their is probably responsible for the survival of own usually individual voice. The Romance instruments” who “played with spirit and the piece. The opening Allegro moderato is effective, as is the most of the slow music. grace and brought the near-capacity crowd reflects an early Romantic style in classical to its feet.” structure. In the Scherzo, the piano has a Shostakovich—A Spin through Moscow Bryan Young, bassoon, a Washington, sparkling part, but be sure to listen for the We think of Shostakovich as a most DC native, has been praised for his "volup- lyrical passages in the two woodwinds that deadly serious composer, but he also tuous sound" by the Double Reed Journal. you may think reminiscent of Beethoven. wrote much “light” music including an A prizewinner of the 2002 Gillet The Largo is the center of balance for the operetta: Moskva, Cheryomushki, or International Bassoon Competition, he has piece and is where the origin of the nick- "Cherry Tree Towers2," which has long had appeared as soloist with the National name “Pathétique” becomes apparent a dull reputation as an opera but comes to Symphony and Baltimore Symphony (listen to the melodies given to the winds, life in this excerpt as a witty, goofy, even Orchestras. Bryan is principal bassoonist of especially the lower voice).This is a musical touching affair. The plot, mildly subversive the Baltimore Chamber. He trained at the manifestation of the Russian saying, ‘When in its reference to Communist Party Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and at a Russian is sad, he is very sad; when a corruption, follows the love lives of six Yale University. Russian is very sad, he is at his very best.’ young Soviets who are scrambling for Vladimir Lande, principal oboist of the The finale begins with runs of triplets that apartments in a ghastly new high-rise Baltimore Opera, was born in St. give way to what can only be the basis of during the chronic housing shortage in Petersburg, Russia. He graduated from the future silent film music. Moscow in the late 1950s. “A Spin through St. Petersburg Conservatory with degrees in Rossini—Fantaisia Concertante Moscow” is the first of four dance-like both oboe and piano. He has performed The “Concert-Fantasy” is one piece from movements. The music portrays a with distinguished conductors including a collection of opera-inspired arrangements heartening comic tale about the clout Leonard Bernstein, Claudio Abbado, Valery arising from the salon music of 19th century common folk can exert when they unite in Gergiev, and Yuri Temirkanov. Vladimir is Paris. The arrangers were bassoon and on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University, 1 oboe virtuosi and Conservatoire professors Rossini, not surprisingly, said 18 where he conducts the chamber orchestra. 2 of that time. Today we hear an exhilarating The name of an actual housing estate in Moscow the collectivist spirit against bureaucracy. Previn—Jaunty Wars, and influenced not just the world’s Listen for clever twists, satires, and self- Born in Germany and escaping the Nazi popular music but also that of serious quotations in the lilting waltzes and regime with his parents at age 9, André composers.4 exuberant ensembles. That Shostakovich Previn grew up in Los Angeles where he The greatest master of the modern got away with this degree of social satire showed significant musical talent in high tango was Astor Piazzolla, born in Mar while Khrushchev was in power is amazing. school. In the 1950s, he was an active jazz Del Plata, Argentina, a resort town south Poulenc—Trio pianist and still performs that style today. He of Buenos Aires. One of his most popular was conductor of the LA Philharmonic from Francis Poulenc was born in Paris and tangos, Oblivion became widely known 1985-89 and was knighted in the UK in associated with the most creative, legen- through the soundtrack of the 1984 film 1996. He is married to Anne-Sophie Mutter dary, and experimental figures of the1920's Henry IV, the Mad King. It has been with whom he tours and performs. For his that nurtured the chief modernist trends of scored for various instrumental 80th birthday in 2009, Carnegie Hall will be combinations and comes from the sultry the early 20th century. He was part of the presenting four concerts which showcase informal group of French composers known side of the tango. Over the melting the diversity of his career. The third as "Les Six" whose plan was to construct a rhythms of the opening the haunting and movement of Previn's 1994 Trio for Oboe, new music separate from the dominance of dark main theme sings a melancholic Bassoon and Piano opens with a leaping Schoenberg (too cerebral) and the associa- song—long-held notes alternating with motif and great rhythmic difficulty, changing tions with Messiaen’s Impressionism (too slowly falling and weaving figures—over a meter in almost every measure. This religi-mystic). Embracing lucidity, straight- subtle, arpeggiated accompaniment (think bounding design reappears in various forms forwardness, humor and even parody, they Phillip Glass), and this returns in a number throughout the movement phrased in a refined a genre influenced by Stravinsky of guises.