Monday, Sept. 26, 2011 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011 – 7 p.m.
Bader Recital Hall Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
The Power of Three Frank Almond, violin Robert deMaine, cello Andrew Armstrong, piano
Trio Élégiaque No. 1 in g (1892)...................Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) Piano Trio (1988)............................................. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Allegro con brio (b. 1939) Lento Presto Intermission Piano Trio No. 1 in B, Op. 8.................................Johannes Brahms Allegro con brio (1833-1897) Scherzo Adagio Allegro
Frankly Music 1
FR ANK ALMOND Violinist Frank Almond holds the Charles and Marie Caestecker Concertmaster Chair at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He returned to the MSO after holding positions as Concertmaster of the Rotterdam Philharmonic with Valery Gergiev, and Guest Concertmaster of the London Philharmonic with Kurt Masur. He has also appeared as a guest concertmaster for the Seattle Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Montreal Symphony, and the Grand Tetons Music Festival. He continues an active schedule of solo and chamber music performances in the US and abroad including appearances with the Ojai Festival, the American String Project in Seattle, Frankly Music, the Nara Academy in Nara, Japan, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Music in the Vineyards, and various solo appearances with orchestras. He has been a member of the chamber group An die Musik in New York City since 1997, and also directs the highly successful Frankly Music Chamber Series based in Milwaukee. At 17, he was one of the youngest prizewinners in the history of the Nicolo Paganini Competition in Genoa, Italy, and five years later was one of two American prizewinners at the Eighth International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, which was documented in an award-winning PBS film. Since then he has kept up an eclectic mix of activities in addition to his Concertmaster duties, appearing both as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition to his work with An die Musik, Mr. Almond’s talent as a chamber musician has generated collaborations over the years with many of today’s well-known institutions, including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln
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Center, the Hal Leonard Corporation, the Ravinia Festival, the New World Symphony, La Jolla Summerfest, Music in the Vineyards, and numerous other summer festivals. He has recorded for Summit, Albany, Boolean (his own label), Innova, Newport Classic, Wergo and New Albion and has appeared numerous times on NPR’s Performance Today. In both 2002 and 2004 An die Musik received Grammy nominations for its “Timeless Tales” series. The re-release of Mr. Almond’s recording of the complete Brahms Sonatas, performed in collaboration with pianist William Wolfram, brought extraordinary critical acclaim, and was listed in the American Record Guide top recordings of 2001. Frank’s most recent CD with William Wolfram was released on the AVIE label to much acclaim, and was named a “Best of 2007” by the American Record Guide. His new CD of American violin and piano music was released in 2010 on Innova Recordings with pianist Brian Zeger, and has also received outstanding press response. A CD of selected works of Samuel Barber was recently released, in cooperation with the Hal Leonard Corporation. Mr. Almond holds two degrees from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Dorothy DeLay. Other important teachers included Michael Tseitlin, Felix Galimir, and Joseph Silverstein. In 2010 he joined the faculty at Northwestern University. When he’s not traveling around playing the violin he lives in Milwaukee with his wife and two young daughters. He plays on a violin by Antonio Stradivari from 1715, the “ex-Lipinski”. In 2008 he started writing an online column called nondivisi.
ROBERT DEMAINE Praised by The New York Times as “An artist who makes one hang on every note,” American virtuoso cellist Robert deMaine has distinguished himself as one of the finest and versatile musicians of his generation, having performed worldwide to critical acclaim from Carnegie Hall to the Teatro Colon. A first-prizewinner in many national and international competitions, Mr. deMaine became, in 1990, the first cellist ever to win the Grand Prize at San Francisco’s Irving M. Klein International Competition for Strings. As soloist, he has collaborated with conductors Neeme Jarvi, Peter Oundjian, Joseph Silverstein, and Leonard Slatkin, among many others, and has performed virtually all of the major cello concerto repertoire with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where he has been Principal Cellist since 2002. Mr. deMaine has also served as a guest principal in the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Robert deMaine counts among his chamber-music partners violinists James Ehnes, Hilary Hahn, Ani and Ida Kavafian, pianists Andrew Armstrong,
Orion Weiss, and Yefim Bronfman, and has appeared at many international music festivals, including those of Marlboro, Aspen, Heidelberg, San Miguel de Allende, Montreal, and Seattle. He is also the cellist of four newly-established chamber groups: The Chroma Piano Trio, Trio21, Icarus (Flute, Cello, Piano), and the Ehnes Quartet. A dedicated teacher, Mr. deMaine has presented masterclasses throughout the U.S. and abroad, and is a regular guest of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach and the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland. He has also taught at the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan. Also a composer, Robert deMaine has written many works for the cello, including Twelve Etudes-Caprices, which he performs regularly. Several important composers have written large-scale works for him, including Chris Theofanidis, Joel Eric Suben, and Jeffrey Mumford. Soon to be released are two recordings by deMaine on the Blue Griffin label: a recital disc featuring works by Rachmaninov, Faure, and Grieg with the pianist Andrew Armstrong, and the Haydn Cello Concertos with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Please join us for the next Frankly Music concerts: Goldberg Variations (string trio) November 28 and 29, 2011, 7PM Bader Hall, WI Conservatory Frankly Music 3
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ANDREW AR MSTRONG Praised by critics for his passionate expression and dazzling technique, pianist Andrew Armstrong has delighted audiences around the world. He has performed solo recitals and appeared with orchestras in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States, including performances at Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and Warsaw’s National Philharmonic. He has performed with such conductors as Peter Oundjian, Itzhak Perlman, and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, and in chamber music with the Alexander, American, and Manhattan String Quartets, as a member of the Caramoor Virtuosi at the Caramoor International Music Festival, and as a member of the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players in New York City. The 2011-12 season brings two new CD releases: Armstrong teams up with Grammyaward-winning violinist James Ehnes in a survey of Bartok’s sonatas and rhapsodies for violin and piano; and the Amelia Piano Trio, featuring violinist Anthea Kreston and cellist Jason Duckles, as well as Armstrong on piano present the trios of Tchaikovsky and Debussy. Armstrong performs this season across Canada and the United States, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as at London’s Wigmore Hall, the Netherlands with the fast-growing Elias String Quartet, and Spain. In recent seasons, Armstrong has performed with major orchestras, including debuts with the Vancouver Symphony, Omaha Symphony and San Antonio Symphony Armstrong, as well as in Mozart’s Concerto K.488 at the Chautauqua Music Festival under the direction of Stefan Sanderling, before embracing Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with both the Fairfax Symphony (Gregory Vajda conducting) and the Nashville Symphony under Günther Herbig. He also appeared with the Toledo, Fairfax, Augusta, Waukesha and Missoula symphonies, and overseas the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico. 2007/08 offered an array of engagements with the Florida Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, Boise Philharmonic, and the symphonies of Tallahassee, Charlottesville, Stamford, Harrisburg, Bellevue and Ridgefield, among others. Last summer, he shared the stage with Jennifer Frautschi and Edward Arron to perform Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Peter Oundjian 6 Frankly Music
conducting. During the summer, he performed a pre-concert recital at the Mostly Mozart Festival. During his 2006/07 season, Armstrong performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the the Charleston Symphony, Saint-Saëns’ 5th Piano Concerto with the Monterey Symphony in a return engagement, Prokofiev No. 3 with the Bridgeport Symphony, and Mozart’s A-major Concerto K. 488 in his debut with the Columbus Symphony under the baton of Günther Herbig. He also played two concertos at the Peninsula Music Festival (the Chopin F minor Concerto and Prokofiev No. 3 under V. Yampolsky) and Rachmaninov’s massive Concerto No. 3 with the Brevard Symphony, Florida. Earlier in 2006 he was the featured soloist with Naumburg Concerts at New York City’s Central Park (Mozart’s Concerto K. 491). In 2004 he performed the World Premiere of Lisa Bielawa’s “The Right Weather” for piano solo and chamber orchestra with the American Composers Orchestra at the sold-out Carnegie Zankel Hall. Having performed over 50 concertos, Armstrong has impressed his international audiences with a large repertoire ranging from Bach to Babbit and beyond. Before beginning his career as a concert pianist, Armstrong received over 25 national and international First Prizes. In 1996, he was named Gilmore Young Artist. At the 1993 Van Cliburn Competition, where he was the youngest pianist entered, he received the Jury Discretionary Award. The New York Times wrote,“Armstrong may have been the most talented player in the competition....He’s a real musician. We’ll hear more from him.” As the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported, Van Cliburn himself,“in a rare showing of enthusiasm for an individual competitor,” called Mr. Armstrong “Fabulous! Fabulous!” Andrew Armstrong’s debut CD, featuring Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Sonata and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, was released in 2004 to critical acclaim. The critic Bradley Bolen opined: “I have heard few pianists play [Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Sonata], recorded or in concert, with such dazzling clarity and confidence” (American Record Guide, Nov/Dec, 2004). His follow-up CD was issued in November 2007 on Cordelia Records and includes works by Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, and the world premiere recording of Bielawa’s Wait for piano & drone. Andrew Armstrong is devoted to outreach programs and playing for children. In addition to his many concerts, his performances are heard regularly on National Public Radio and WQXR, New York City’s premier classical music station.
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Offer available by phone at the Florentine Box Office only. Subject to availability. May not be combined with any other offer.
F R A N K LY M U S I C B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S Linda Tojek, President Jean Holmburg, Vice President Marta Haas, Secretary Calvin C. Kozlowski, Treasurer Frank Almond Dr. Russell Brooker Linda Tojek
Patricia Crump Laurence Tucker Judy Keyes Linda L. Saladin Wendy Slocum Barbara Wanless
Frank Almond, Artistic Director Linda L. Saladin, Executive Director For more information please visit: http://www.franklymusic.org or email us at franklymusic@me.com and check us out on Facebook! Call 414.940.8770 if you wish to be added to the mailing list, or join online. Please go to www.franklymusic.org to purchase tickets
2 011- 2 012 F R A N K LY M U S I C S E A S O N PAT R O N S $5,000 to $9,999 Frank Almond Orthodox Christian Charities of Wisconsin $3,000 to $4,999 Patrice Bringe Greater Milwaukee Foundation Judith A. Keyes Family Fund Barry and Eileen Mandelhosts of the 2011 fundraiser United Performing Arts Fund $2,000 to $2,999 CAMPAC Robert and Mary Jane Denton James and Linda Saladin Michael & Jeanne Schmitz $1,000 to $1,999 Dr. Christine Bryke and Dr. Anthony Garber Greg Chrisafis Megan Holbrook and Eric Vogel Charles & Jean Holmburg Angela Johnston Peter & Wendy Slocum $500 to $999 Dr. Frank Almond James and Roberta Caraway Michael Gonzalez Doyne and Marta Haas Sanford & Katharine Mallin Christel Mildenberg Mary Ellen Mitchanis Bill & Gwen Niewoehner Roger and Nancy Ritzow Dr. Thomas and Harriet Russell 8 Frankly Music
Joan Urdan Don & Kate Wilson Wisconsin Lutheran College * $250 to $499 Dr. Russell and Karen Brooker Phillip and Patricia Crump Il Mito Restaurant* Robert and Gail Korb Cal & Lynn Kozlowski Tom and Jane Lacy Arthur & Nancy Laskin John & Martha Lubing Allen and Pat Rieselbach Roger Ritzow Kathleen Ryan Barbara Wanless Catherine Wendt Jim and Susee Wiechmann $100 to $249 Connie Almond Dave and Chris Abbott Farlin Caufield James Chapson Franklyn Eisenberg Dr. & Mrs Ed Filmanowicz Katherine Grogan David and Margarete Harvey Barbara Holland Gordon and Dorothy Kenngott Marty and Alice Krebs Alexander & Mary MacGillis Mason Street Grille* Mae-Carol Matousek Cindy H. Molloy Metavante** Milwaukee Repertory Theater* Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra*
Duane and Karen Nadolski S. J. Janis Co. Linda Radder RBC Foundation** Harris & Charlene Roufas Charles and Patricia Roy Allan and Jo Salzstein Larry and Kathy Schnuck Elaine Schueler Sharon Lynne Wilson Center For the Arts* Skylight Opera Theatre* Gile & Linda Tojek Norm & Prati Wojtal $99 and under Fred and Kay Austermann Joyce Gudeman Carol Goldstein David and Carol Jones Judy & Gary Jorgensen Ann Leys David and Maria Luce Milwaukee Chamber Theatre* Next Act Theatre* Jane O’Connell Karen Peters Present Music* Darlene Roberts Judith Ruland Fred & MaryBeth Schmelzer Mary Ellen Schmidt Sabina Silver George Simonds Robert and Alice Streicher Sherman & Donna Swanson Temple Hills Coffee* Thomas Varney Wisconsin Energy Foundation** *in-kind donations **matching gift