Classical Music News of the Week, November 20, 2011

National Philharmonic Chorale to Perform Handel's Messiah at the Music Center at Strathmore



North Bethesda, MD, November 1, 2011 – In celebration of the holidays, National Philharmonic Chorale Artistic Director Stan Engebretson will conduct the National Philharmonic in Handel's Messiah on Saturday, December 10 at 8 pm and Sunday, December 11 at 3 pm at the Music Center at Strathmore. The concert will feature the National Philharmonic's nearly 200 voice all-volunteer Chorale, as well as soloists Jennifer Casey Cabot (soprano); Kendall Gladen (mezzo-soprano); Matthew Smith (tenor); and Kevin Deas (bass).



Handel's Messiah, among the most popular works in Western choral literature, was first performed in Dublin on April 13, 1742. The composer's most famous work is divided into three parts that address specific events in the life of Christ. Part one is primarily concerned with the Advent and Christmas stories; part two chronicles Christ's passion, resurrection, ascension and commitment to spreading the Christian message; and part three is based primarily upon the events chronicled in the Revelation of St. John. The National Philharmonic and Chorale, in addition to a stellar cast of soloists, will perform the complete work, which includes such favorites as "The Trumpet Shall Sound," "And the Glory of the Lord," and, of course, the famous "Hallelujah Chorus."



A free pre-concert lecture will be offered at 6:45 pm on December 10; at 1:45 on December 11 in the concert hall at the Music Center at Strathmore. To purchase tickets to National Philharmonic's concerts on December 10 and 11, please visit nationalphilharmonic.org or call the box office at (301) 581-5100. Tickets are $32-$79; kids 7-17 are FREE through the ALL KIDS, ALL FREE, ALL THE TIME program (sponsored by The Gazette).  ALL KIDS tickets must be purchased in person or by phone. Photo credit for National Philharmonic Chorale Artistic Director Stan Engebretson is Jerry Fernandez.



--Deborah Birnbaum, National Philharmonic



Cleveland International Piano Competition Presents 2011 First-Prize Winner Alexander Schimpf at Zankel Hall, December 5, 2011

NEW YORK, NY – First-Prize Winner of the 2011 Cleveland International Piano Competition, German-born pianist Alexander Schimpf makes his New York debut at 7:30pm on December 5, 2011 in Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall. Selected from a field of 28 pianists from 11 countries, Mr. Schimpf received a cash award of $50,000 and more than 50 worldwide engagements, including a December 5, 2011 Zankel Hall recital. Mr. Schimpf's largely German program includes works by Bach, Brahms and Schubert as well as two works - one a world premiere - from young German composer Adrian Sieber.



Mr. Schimpf's Zankel Hall program displays a great affinity for his Germanic musical heritage beginning with Bach's English Suite No. 3 in G Minor followed by Brahms's Ballade No. 4 in B Major, Op. 10 and two works by Adrian Sieber, Fantasie II, a work Mr. Schimpf performed during the 2011 Competition, and the world premiere of Sieber's …und schon verglüht (…and already in embers) written for the pianist.  Schubert's Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960 concludes the program.



Born in Gottingen, Germany in 1981, Alexander Schimpf initially studied piano with Wolfgang Manz in Hannover, and subsequently attended the Musikhochschule Dresden with Winfried Apel and the Musikhochschule Wurzburg with Bernd Glemser.  Pianists Ceclile Ousset and Janina Fialkowska also played an important role in his artistic development.



In addition to the Cleveland Competition, Mr. Schimpf won First Prize at the 2008 German Music Competition in the solo piano category, as well as the 2009 Beethoven Competition in Vienna.  He was awarded the Audience Prize by vote of those in attendance at the final round of the Cleveland Competition.



Alexander Schimpf, piano

Cleveland International Piano Competition First-Prize Winner

Monday, December 5, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall



Bach:  English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808

Brahms: Ballade No. 4 in B Major, Op. 10

Adrian Sieber: Fantasie II

Adrain Sieber: ...und schon verglüht  (World Premiere)

Schubert: Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960



Admission: $15, $10 for students and seniors.

Tickets on sale at www.carnegiehall.org, CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 and at the Carnegie Hall Box Office.



--Kirschbaum Demler & Associates



National Philharmonic Singers & Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet Present Holiday Concert

North Bethesda, MD, November 2, 2011 – The National Philharmonic Singers and

Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet, under the direction of conductors Stan

Engebretson, Victoria Gau and Phil Snedecor, will present a free holiday concert on

Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 8 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 107 South

Washington Street, Rockville, Maryland.



The concert will feature music from the great cathedrals of Europe with antiphonal works

by Gabrieli, as well as holiday favorites in exciting new arrangements. In addition, music

by Lauridsen, Whitacre will be highlighted. The concert concludes with famous carols,

including the "Hallelujah Chorus."



The National Philharmonic Singers, led by Stan Engebretson and Victoria Gau, is a

chamber choir and one of several performing ensembles of the National Philharmonic.

The group promotes works suited for smaller ensembles, whether with accompaniment or

a cappella. Its repertoire ranges from the 15th to 21st centuries, and it often premieres new

compositions by local composers.



The Washington Symphonic Brass, led by Phil Snedecor, is composed of professional

musicians in the Washington/Baltimore area who have assembled to play some of the

great literature written for large brass ensemble and percussion. Members of the WSB

have performed with many of the nation's best orchestras, such as the National

Symphony. The group performs throughout the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan

area and its repertoire covers five centuries.



The December 17 holiday concert at the Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville is free

but donations in support of the Community Ministries of Rockville will be gratefully

accepted. Christ Episcopal Church is located at 107 South Washington Street in

Rockville, MD. Directions to the church may be found at www.christchurchrockville.org or

by calling the church at 301-762-2191, ext. 3. For more information, please visit

nationalphilharmonic.org for call 301-493-9283, ext. 116.



--Deborah Birnbaum



Music Institute of Chicago Presents Acclaimed Vamos Family

Acclaimed Musician-Teachers Perform December 17 at Nichols Concert Hall



Assembling a family of noteworthy musicians and teachers, The Music Institute of Chicago presents a Vamos Family Concert Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.



Playing a program of Chopin's Cello Sonata in G Minor, Poulenc's Violin Sonata, and Bach's Concerto for Three Violins in D Major, Vamos family members are recipients of numerous honors and have performed widely to great critical acclaim.



Wife and husband Almita (violin) and Roland Vamos (conductor), both members of the Music Institute's violin faculty (Roland also serves on the viola and chamber music faculties and conducts the Music Institute's Senior Academy Orchestra), have received multiple Presidential Excellence in Teaching Awards and launched the careers of numerous individual musicians and renowned chamber groups, including Rachel Barton Pine, Jennifer Koh and several members of the Grammy Award-winning Pacifica Quartet, including their son Brandon Vamos, cello, and his wife Simin Ganatra, violin, who join them on this program. Also performing are Almita and Roland's son Rami Vamos, guitar, and his wife Nurit Pacht, violin, as well as Almita's sister Eugenia Monacelli, piano.



--Jill Chukerman, JAC Communications

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