The Friday Morning Music Club Newsletter 1

128TH SEASON MAY 2014 VOL. 48, NO. 5

PerformersPerformers WantedWanted forfor thethe NextNext ChoralChoral WorkshopWorkshop PETER BAUM ay is traditionally one of workshops, the music selected covers Mthe busiest months in the the spectrum of choral works and musical year. This makes it even includes music by Brahms, Haydn, more important to save May 31st Schubert, Bruckner, Rheinberger, on your calendar. That’s the day Lauridsen and Martin. Whenever the FMMC Chorale Director possible, the committee will also Search Committee has secured post links to PDF files of the music the Fellowship Hall of the First selected so workshop attendees can Baptist Church (1328 16th Street, review the music in advance of the NW, Washington, DC 20036) for workshop. the third of its four workshops. In People interested in singing these workshops, candidates for in the chorus should email Peter the position of Chorale Director Baum at [email protected], or demonstrate their ability to pre- sign up directly on the workshop pare the chorus and orchestra for web page www.fmmc-chorale- a performance after a limited but director.weebly.com. Be sure to very focused set of rehearsals. The indicate the voice part you want third workshop will be directed and whether you are a FMMC by Dr. Yoon Nam, currently the member. Orchestra members should INSIDE THIS ISSUE Director of Traditional Music at the also contact Peter Baum or visit the Floris United Methodist Church in web site to sign up, indicating their 2 President’s Message Herndon, VA. instrument. 3 JIC, Where Are They Now? Registration for this third work- A final workshop will be held in 4 May, June, and July Events Calendar shop will start at 9:00 am for the July. The purpose of the workshops chorus. The chorus will rehearse at is to allow the singers, instrumen- 5 Piano Master Class 9:30 am, break for lunch at 12 noon talists, the search committee and 6 2014 Sue Goetz Ross Memorial – bring your own lunch or eat out FMMC’s Board of Governors to Student Voice Competition at one of the many restaurants in evaluate the candidates chosen by 6 2014 Woodwind, Brass, and the area – and continue to rehearse the committee from over 15 people Percussion Competition at 1:00 pm. Orchestra members will who submitted applications in 6 Anne Zim to be Honored at Annual begin a separate rehearsal at 1:00 October and November. Participants Luncheon pm, the chorus joining them at 2:30 in the chorus and orchestra are pm. The concert will begin at 4:00 asked to complete a survey after 7 From the Foundation Director pm and should last no more than each workshop and give their input 7 Avanti Masterwork Festival Presents one hour. Be sure to invite your on how well they felt the candidates Mahler Symphony No. 1 friends and family to join us for did as teachers and leaders in this 8 Gluck at 300 the concert. As in the previous two highly compressed event. 2 May 2014 President’s Message CAROL WOLFE-RALPH appy Spring! It’s finally here. It is also seems to be the busiest Htime of year for those in the music profession. FMMC has been busy with its annual student competitions. Many members An official publication of the may not realize that we run three instrumental competitions, a Friday Morning Music Club, Inc. voice competition and a composition competition. I know from Organized in 1886 personal experience that it takes a lot of time and energy to run events like this, so thank you, Edith Tatel, Mark Handel, Mira Yang and Chen-Li Tzeng for your dedication and hard work. I would also like to thank our CAROL WOLFE-RALPH Student Activities Chair, Christine Kharazian, for all of her support. Another exciting event FMMC President just around the corner is the final round of the Washington International Competition which [email protected] will be held in June. This year’s competition features pianists and is in the able hands of Bonnie WINSTON DAVIS Kellert. Next month, we hold the annual membership luncheon and meeting on Friday, May 9, Newsletter Editor at the Army Navy Country Club. Our guest speaker is Jenny Bilfield, President of Washington [email protected] Performing Arts Society. She is truly a dynamic individual, and I guarantee that her mes- sage will be inspirational. I would also like to recognize a lovely person, Anne Zim, who has been unanimously voted by the Board of Governors for the special citation of Honorary Please submit new addresses Membership. Perhaps you don’t know Anne personally, but it would surprise me if you don’t and address changes to: know her name. She has been a rock-solid supporter of the FMMC for many years. She re- ROBIN FRIEDMAN cently stated in a note to me that “The FMMC has given me one thousand times the effort I 2nd VP Membership have given it!” I don’t know whether that’s possible, Anne, because you have given so much of [email protected] yourself. On behalf of the membership, thank you! It has been a busy year! Take care. Carol The Friday Morning Music Club is a member of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, DC. Please support our artistic News and educational programs FROM LI-LY CHANG through the United Way by designating #8624 or the usical Arts International’s season finale is also a cello coach for the Maryland Classics Combined Federal Campaign Mwill be held on Sunday, May 25th at Youth Orchestra. Li-Ly Chang, who has by designating #38448. 3:00 pm at the Calvary Lutheran Church, performed in Asia, Europe and the USA, is 9545 Georgia Avenue, in Silver Spring, MD. currently the director of the International The concert will feature violinist Qing Li, Young Artist Piano Competition. cellist Ken Ding, and pianist Li-Ly Chang. Tickets: Adults $20, Students/Seniors $15. The program includes Zoltan Kodaly’s Duo Please call 301-933-3715 for ticket informa- CFC FMMC 38448 8624 for violin and cello, Op. 7, Haydn’s Piano tion. www.musicalartsinternational.org Trio in F-sharp minor, and Fauré’s Piano Trio, Op. 120. A reception and discussion will And also… follow the concert. There is free parking in The International Young Artist Piano front of the church and on Flora Lane. The Competition Finals will be held from June Metro stop is Forest Glen on the red line. 26th through the 28th featuring music East Not only have Qing Li’s solo performanc- and West. The Winners’ Concert and Awards es garnered critical praise; as principal sec- Ceremony will take place on June 29th at ond violinist with the Baltimore Symphony, 2:00 pm. All events will be held in the Ward she is also admired as one of the country’s Recital Hall, Catholic University of America. Printing and Distribution by MT. ROYAL PRINTING & most accomplished orchestral players. Ken The event is free and open to the public. See COMMUNICATIONS 703-683-5600 Ding, who performs with the National www.musicalartsinternational.org/IYAPC. Philharmonic and the Baltimore Symphony, For the schedule please call 301-933-3715. The Friday Morning Music Club Newsletter 3 Where Are They Now? Johansen International String Competition Updates FELICE KORNBERG rdinarily, members of the JIC committee collect infor- ellist Su-Jin Lee, prize-winner in the 2006 Johansen Omation from past winners for this column. But recently, CInternational String Competition, travelled to Cuba this violist Junping Qian, prize winner in the 2006 Johansen past March as one of the musicians from the Ravinia Festival’s International String Steans Music Institute Competition, sent us the (RSMI). Led by violinist following update. The com- Miriam Fried, who is the mittee would like to share director of RSMI’s piano it with you: and strings program, the “To me, this competi- group performed as part of tion was a door opener for the island nation’s Festvial my career and for my life de Música de Cámara. as an international citizen. Su-Jin has performed That was the first time I extensively in the United had ever traveled abroad. States and Europe at such As the winner of this com- world-renowned venues petition, I began to feel as the Louvre Museum, confident in my work. The Sibelius Hall, the Kennedy following year, I won first Center, the Metropolitan prize in the China National Museum of Art, the Rose Viola Competition. Two Studio at Lincoln Center JUNPING QIAN SU-JIN LEE years later, I got into Curtis and Carnegie Hall’s Zankel and was also invited by the Kronberg Academy. Also because of Hall. An avid chamber musician, she has coached with Gil this competition, I had many new opportunities in my school Kalish, Nobuko Imai, Menahem Pressler, Miriam Fried, Ida and in my country. Later I became the principal violist in the Kavafian, Michael Tree, Wu Han, David Finckel, and Paul Verbier Festival Orchestra. I couldn’t be more grateful to the Neubauer, and has collaborated with such artists as Itzhak JIC Competition.” Perlman, Donald Weilerstein, and Roger Tapping. In addition “You may not know this, but I always wanted to become to the Steans Institute at Ravinia, she has participated at the a conductor. After I got into Curtis, I met probably the best Music@Menlo Chamber Music Institute, the Perlman Music conducting teacher in the world, Otto-Werner Mueller. I Program, and the Aspen Music Festival, working closely with soon realized that conducting is what I really want to do. My teachers such as Ronald Leonard, Frans Helmerson, Ralph viola teacher at Curtis, Roberto Diaz, supported this move. I Kirshbaum and Richard Aaron. started to take all the required courses for a conducting ma- In May, 2013, as part of a joint Columbia/Juilliard program, jor and have had many opportunities to conduct concerts at she received her B.A. in psychology from Columbia University Curtis and in China. Now I am earning my master’s degree and completed her undergraduate cello studies at the Juilliard in conducting at the College Conservatory of Music of the School with Timothy Eddy, with one semester at the Paris University of Cincinnati. I’m still playing my viola, just be- Conservatoire with Philippe Muller. She is currently pursu- cause I love to play.” ing her master’s in music at the New England Conservatory of Music where she studies with Laurence Lesser. Performance Applications for 2014-2015

he 2014-2015 season of chamber music and solo recitals sponsored by the FMMC begins early next fall and continues into Tthe spring. Every effort will be made to give all performers their choice of venues and dates. Details, including guidelines, venues and times, are on the application. Application forms will be available on-line at www.fmmc.org under “Performance Series and Opportunities.” Applicants are encouraged to fill out the form on line. Those who wish to submit a paper application should contact the program director, Jeongseon Choi, by email [email protected] or by phone 301-983-4804. 4 May 2014 FMMC Concert Calendar MAY, JUNE, AND JULY 2014

THURSDAY, MAY 1, 11:00 AM SUNDAY, MAY 11, 3:00 PM Choral workshop directed by Dr. Yoon The Mansion at Strathmore Steinway Gallery Nam. Selected choral works TBD. • Mozart: Sonata in G Major, K FMMC student members. Persons interested in participating as 301. Destiny Hoyle, violin; Martin singers or in the orchestra should con- tact Peter Baum [email protected] Labazevitch, piano. TUESDAY, MAY 13, 12:00 NOON • Spohr: Six German songs, op. 103. Dumbarton House or visit the Choral Workshop website at Melissa Mino, ; Albert Hunt, www.fmmc-chorale-director.weebly.com. • Rameau: Two arias from Platée. clarinet; Felicia Weiss, piano. Purcell: “If Music Be the Food of • Handel: The Arrival of the Queen of Love.” Marjorie Coombs Wellman, SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 9:30 AM TO Sheba. Borodin: Tarantella. Barbara 6:00 PM soprano; Jan Timbers, violoncello; Peterson Cackler and Rosanne George Washington University Sharon Ollison, harpsichord. Conway, piano four hands. Rome Hall • Handel: arias and du- ets. “Piangero la sorte mia” (Giulio Washington International Competition FRIDAY, MAY 2, 12:00 NOON Cesare); “Se fiere belva ha cin- semifinals. Calvary Baptist Church to” (Rodelinda); “Io t’abbraccio” • George Butterworth: Love Blows (Rodelinda); “Caro! Bella!” (Giulio SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2:00 PM as the Wind Blows. John Turner, ; Cesare). Nancy MacArthur Smith, Kennedy Center Terrace Theater Gail MacColl and Connie Milner, soprano; Karen Mercedes, con- Washington International Competition violins; Caroline Brethauer, viola; tralto; Heidi Schuller, flute; Rachael finals. Joanna Taylor, cello. Bredefeld, oboe; Barbara Gholz and • Spohr: Six German songs, op. 103. Miriam Goldberg, violins; Caroline TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 7:30 PM Melissa Mino, soprano; Albert Hunt, Brethauer, viola; Jan Timbers, vio- Dumbarton House clarinet; Felicia Weiss, piano. loncello; Sharon Ollison, harpsichord. A program commemorating the • Bach-Liszt: Prelude and Fugue in • Haydn: Quartet in D Major, op. 50, War of 1812. A Minor, BWV 543. Debussy: L’Isle no. 6 (“The Frog”). Barbara Gholz • Henry Rowley Bishop: String Joyeuse. Bach-Busoni: Chorale Prelude and Carol Bartholomew, violins; Quartet in C Minor. Barbara Gholz Wachet Auf. Enoch Gordis, piano. Caroline Brethauer, viola; Brigitta and Connie Milner, violins; Caroline Czernik Gruenther, violoncello. Brethauer, viola; Sarah Hover, THURSDAY, MAY 8, 7:00 PM violoncello. Greenspring FRIDAY, MAY 16, 12:00 NOON • Philippe Laroque: The Battle of New • Prokofiev: Sonata. Susan Hayes, Calvary Baptist Church Orleans for piano and narrator. Karen flute; Barbara Cackler, piano. • Maiko Chiba: Five Songs. Kimiko Mercedes, narrator; Ruth Locker • Beethoven: Piano Trio in C Minor, Shimada, soprano; Maiko Chiba, (guest), piano. op. 1, no. 3. David Brown, violin; piano. • An operatic medley from works by Heejung Jung, cello; John Earle, • Dvořák: Quintet in G Minor, op. 72. H.R. Bishop, Victor Pelissier, John piano. Cecilie Jones and Joyce Rizzolo, Whitaker, Michael Kelly, John • Liszt: Rhapsodie Espagnole. Richard violins; Robert Huesmann,viola; Jan Addison, John Braham and Matthew Shin, piano. Timbers, cello; Cyndy Elliott, . Peter King. Marjorie Coombs • Grieg: Selected songs. Gail Collins, Wellman, soprano; Karen Mercedes, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 10:00 AM mezzo-soprano; Enoch Gordis, piano. ; Brian Lee (guest), tenor; Annual meeting and luncheon at the James Harkless, ; Ruth Army Navy Country Club. SATURDAY, MAY 31, 9:00 AM TO Locker (guest), piano. 5:00 PM Meeting at 10:00 am, reception at First Baptist Church (Fellowship Hall) 11:30 am, luncheon at 12:00 noon. Choral workshop and concert. Concert starting at 4:00 pm is open to the public. The Friday Morning Music Club Newsletter 5 FMMC Concert Calendar Piano Master Class MAY, JUNE, AND JULY 2014 embers are reminded of the master class/coaching session to take place on MWednesday, May 7th, from 10:00 am to noon at the International Piano SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 7:30 PM Archives. Internationally renowned pianist-pedagogue Thomas Schumacher will Montgomery College Cultural Arts coach three pianists from the FMMC. Center The International Piano Archives (IPAM) is located in the Clarice Smith Avanti - the orchestra of the Friday Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland at College Park. Donald Morning Music Club, Pablo Saelzer, Manildi, curator, will be the host. conductor. Admission is free, but contributions to the FMMC Piano Coaching Fund • Mahler: Symphony No. 1. are welcome. For information, please contact the committee: D. Fleming 301-365-6828, S. Kim 202-966-6490, M. Traver 301-699-8854, or C. Rozier SATURDAY, JULY 19, 9:00 AM TO 202-362-8068. 5:00 PM First Baptist Church (Fellowship Hall).

Choral workshop and concert. Concert MEMBERSHIP UPDATES starting at 4:00 pm is open to the public. • Choral workshop directed by Chad Lilley Jovon Eborn Scott Borg Student Solo Saxophone Student Solo Baritone Solo Guitar Nicholas A. Brown. Selected cho- ral works TBD. Persons interested in participating as singers or in the or- [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Olivia Staton Shafali Jalota Dr. Liana Valente chestra should contact Peter Baum Student Solo Flute Student Solo Soprano Solo Soprano [email protected] or visit the Choral Workshop website at www.fmmc-cho- [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] rale-director.weebly.com. Cathy Xue Norika Zehnder Carole Falvo Student Solo Flute Student Solo Soprano Solo Clarinet

VENUES ARMY NAVY COUNTRY CLUB Gladstone Butler [email protected] [email protected] Student Solo Percussion 2400 S. 18th St., Arlington, VA Karen Lackey Gi Na Nam Student Solo Soprano Chamber Piano CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 755 Eighth St. NW, Washington, DC [email protected] (Metro: Gallery Place) Caitlin Redding [email protected] [email protected] DUMBARTON HOUSE Student Solo Mezzo Nicole Hodgins Naoko Maeda 2715 Q St. NW, Washington, DC Student Solo Soprano Solo Piano

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH [email protected] 16th and O Sts. NW, Washington, DC (Metro: Dupont Circle) Joseph Chee [email protected] [email protected] Student Solo Bass/Baritone GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ROME Mindy Horowitz Judith S. Block HALL Chamber Violin Solo Piano 801 22nd St. NW, Room B-120, [email protected] Washington, DC John Chong Yoon Noh [email protected] [email protected] GREENSPRING Student Solo Tenor 7410 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, VA Shankar Balasubramanian Solo Violin KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER Washington, DC (Metro: Foggy Bottom) [email protected] Jonathan Champ [email protected] THE MANSION AT STRATHMORE Student Solo Baritone 10701 Rockville Pike, N. Bethesda, MD Susan Yeh (Metro: Grosvenor) Solo Violin MONTGOMERY COLLEGE CULTURAL ARTS [email protected] CENTER Grace Gilday [email protected] 7995 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD Student Solo Soprano STEINWAY GALLERY 11611 Old Georgetown Rd., N. Bethesda, MD. (Metro: White Flint) [email protected] 6 May 2014 2014 Sue Goetz Ross Memorial Student Voice Competition

ive prizes and five honorable mentions were awarded braved a cold and rainy Saturday to participate. The judges Fat the March 29, 2014 Sue Goetz Ross Memorial were Sharon Christman of Catholic University of America, Student Competition for Voice. First prize ($1000) went Stanley Cornett of the Peabody Institute and Patricia Miller to mezzo soprano Caitlin Redding; second prizes ($700) of George Mason University. Awards were based entirely on were awarded to bass baritone Joseph Chee and tenor John, total points awarded by the judges. All of the participants Chong Yoon Noh; third prizes ($500) went to baritone received the judges’ comments at the awards ceremony held at Jonathan Champ and soprano Grace Gilday. Honorable the conclusion of the competition. Frank Conlon and George mentions were baritone Jovon Eborn and Shafali Peachey served as accompanists for the performers. Steve Jalota, Norika Zehnder, Karen Lackey and Nicole Hodgins. Roberts, the generous sponsor of this competition was present All prize winners and honorable mentions receive one for the entire event. year’s free membership in the Friday Morning Music Club. Mira Yang, Competition Chair Twenty-seven competitors – voice students aged 17-22 – Christine Kharazian, FMMC Student Activities Chair

2014 Woodwind, Brass, & Percussion Competition

or the second year in a row, an alto sax player from accompanists and the judges determined that the musicianship FDeMatha Catholic High School has earned First Prize in of each was at such a high level that all should be eligible for the FMMC’s Ross-Roberts High School Competition for admission to the FMMC as student members-without-audi- Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion held March 8, 2014 at the tion. We are grateful to FMMC Member Steve Roberts for National Presbyterian Church. Chad Lilley was this year’s his continued gracious support of this competition not only winner of the $1,000 first prize (alto saxist Eric Rierson was financially, but with his time. Steve regularly attends the entire last year’s First Prize winner). The judges this year award- competition and awards the certificates. ed two second prizes of $700 each to flutists Cathy Xue 2014 Judges Mark Simon, Susan Hayes, and Charles Ostle (Montgomery Blair High School) and Olivia Staton (James commended all the contestants on the high level of their Madison High School). Percussionist Gladstone Butler, also musicianship, the rigor of their repertoires, and their impressive of DeMatha Catholic, was awarded an honorable mention. memorization. No third prize was awarded. All contestants used their own Co-Chairs: Edie Tatel and Olivia Adler

Anne Zim to be Honored at Annual Luncheon

he FMMC Board of Governors has unanimously ap- Institution featuring FMMC performers and lecturers in a Tproved the nomination of Associate Member Anne W. special music series. She has also chaired a number of ben- Zim to receive the special citation of Honorary Member. This efits for the club and orchestra including the FMMC’s 125th nomination will be presented to club members at the Annual Anniversary Celebration, a formidable undertaking that cul- Membership Meeting and Luncheon on May 9. minated in a combined orchestra-vocal gala at the Schlesinger The FMMC has benefited greatly over the years from Concert Hall. the dedication and remarkable efforts of Anne Zim. Since Letters of support for this nomination were received from becoming FMMC Finance Director in 1999, she has guided Dina Fleming, Jo-Ann Royer, Yvonne Sabine, and Jan Timbers. many projects that have brought financial stability to the They, along with many others who have worked closely with club. She is responsible for obtaining numerous grants over Anne, have the highest praise for her dedication to music and the years from the Dallas Coors Foundation, grants that to our organization. have helped support our Avanti orchestra’s Kennedy Center The Honorary Membership Committee includes Lois concerts. She arranged a partnership with the Smithsonian Jones, Clair Rozier, and Mary Kathryn Traver, Chairman. The Friday Morning Music Club Newsletter 7 From the Foundation Director LESLIE LUXEMBURG his year’s Washington International Competition for the audience prize (the Amelia Tpiano will take place on June 7th and 8th. We hope that Stieglitz Wishner and Viola as many of you as are able will plan to join us at the finals Musher Award) and who on Sunday the 8th at 2:00 pm in the Terrace Theater of the continues to take a personal Kennedy Center. It is always entertaining to try to outguess interest in “her” winners year our esteemed panel of judges, Ilana Vered, Jerome Rose and after year! Ralph Votapek. Regardless of their decisions, every audience Another competition member gets to vote for the finalist they think is best and thus under the umbrella of the worthy of taking home the audience-prize. The judges and the FMMC Foundation, the audience don’t always agree but, whatever the outcome, one is 2015 Johansen International certain to come away having heard some outstanding young Competition for Young String Players (violin, viola, cello, ages pianists. 13-17), is set for March 18-21, 2015 in Washington, DC. More It’s not too late to sign up to host one of our semifinalists than 10,000 brochures with applications have been printed and have the unique opportunity of hearing them practice in and mailed to string teachers and music schools across the your home before the competition! Who could resist having world. The brochures provide details about eligibility and rep- one’s own “Hauskonzert!” Please contact me directly to ex- ertoire requirements, along with information on how to access press your willingness to be a host. the online application on the JIC pages of the FMMC website We could not continue every year without the generosity (www.fmmc.org). Please share this information with gifted of FMMC members who sponsor some of our financial prizes. young string players and their teachers. In particular I would like to recognize Sally Potter whose Serving as Foundation Director this year has been an ad- support covers our first prize (the Lewis A. Potter Award), venture and a privilege. I could not have done it without the Ann Schein who provides the funds for the third prize (the help and support of my Foundation Board and so many mem- Ann and Betty Schein award), and Viola Musher who funds bers of the FMMC Board as well. Thank you!

Avanti Masterwork Festival Presents Mahler Symphony No. 1

his June, FMMC conductor Pablo Saelzer will direct the June 28, 7:30 pm, at Montgomery College’s Cultural Arts TAvanti Orchestra’s fifth annual Masterwork Festival in col- Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Rehearsals will be held laboration with Montgomery College. The 2014 festival will Monday through Friday, June 23-27, from 7:30 to 10:00 feature Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major. pm, in the Music Building on the Rockville Campus of The Masterwork Festival is an opportunity for highly ac- Montgomery College. complished musicians – professional, amateur, and student – to For more information, contact Nan Cooper at orches- come together to study, rehearse and perform a symphonic [email protected] or visit www.metropolitanorchestramc.org/ masterwork. The performance will take place on Sunday, mwf2014.htm.

THE EXCHANGE

Members (and members only) can place announcements for NEEDED: Instrumentalists to perform an original clarinet music and/or instruments they want to buy, sell or give away, or quintet (string quartet plus clarinet) at an FMMC composers’ for musicians they need for ensembles or specific performances. concert in the 2014-2015 season. The piece is ten minutes long Announcements must be as brief as possible. Because space is and is written in a quasi-klezmer style. Please contact David limited, the Exchange will operate on a “first come, first served” Rubenstein 703-464-0234 or [email protected]. basis. Send submissions to [email protected]. Friday Morning Music Club FIRST CLASS U S Postage 801 K Street, NW P A I D Washington, DC 20001 Lutherville, MD Permit No 171

8 May 2014 Gluck at 300 ROBIN FRIEDMAN n celebration of the 300th anniversary of Christoph upwardly mobile career-types. Soprano Catherine Nagelstad IWillibald Gluck’s birth (1714-1789), Art Haus Musik has portrays Alceste. Catriona Smith leads the chorus. issued a three DVD set called “Gluck 300.” “Iphigenie en Tauride,” probably Gluck’s greatest work, Gluck, an Enlightenment humanist, used Greek myth to has had frequent revivals in recent years, including a perfor- bring together passion and reason in his music. The and mance by the Washington Opera two years ago. It recounts the performances in this collection make Gluck accessible to a the friendship between two young men and the heroism of contemporary audience. Iphigenie, the sister of Orestes, who serves as priestess in a “Orfeo ed Euridice” recounts the Greek myth of a musi- pagan court. This presentation dates from 2001 at the Zurich cian who enters hell to rescue his wife. The DVD of a 1991 Opera House. William Christie, the renowned conductor of performance at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, is di- early music, conducts the “La Scintilla” orchestra in an imagi- rected by Harry Kupfer and conducted by Hartmut Haenchen. natively staged performance. The opera, celebrating the victory It sets the opera in a modern city with the hero a rock singer of Enlightenment over barbarism, features soprano Juliette in tight jeans, a leather jacket, slinging a guitar. Countertenor Galstian as Iphigenie. Joachin Kowalski offers a passionate performance of Orfeo. Stuttgart’s Staatsoper presents a 2006 performance of “Alceste” with Constantinus Carydis conducting. The opera NOTICE: After this issue, the Newsletter will take its tells the story of a heroic wife who offers her life to spare that annual summer vacation. We’ll be back in September, with of her husband, Admete, who the gods have decreed must batteries recharged. Have a good summer! die. This production also is presented in contemporary dress, Winston Davis, Newsletter Editor with the two primary characters presented, rather ironically, as