Sunday, July 31st was the final concert in the 2011 Basically Beethoven Festival. Opening the show on the Rising Star Recital were three unbelievably talented students from the Suzuki Institute of Dallas. First, Vatsal Vermuri, age 8, delighted us with a piece of Haydn’s work. Next, Nikki Naghavi, age 10, played a Monti piece. Closing the recital was Shokhvrit Mond, who at age 14 played Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 by Chopin. These talented students had the audience on their feet by the end of the recital.
At 3:00 Aeolus Quartet took to the stage for the feature performance. They played an exciting piece by Michael Torke entitled “Corner in Manhattan” to open the concert, and followed it with Beethoven’s masterpiece Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132. It was an extraordinary afternoon of string music and the quartet delighted the audience from beginning to end.
Aeolus Quartet’s performance marked the end of this year’s Basically Beethoven Festival, and I can’t believe it has come to a close! Sincerest thanks to all of our artists, rising stars, patrons, sponsors, and volunteers for making the 2011 festival such a success. We can’t wait to see everyone again on October 15th for the first Bancroft Family Concert!
Until then,
Tori Brenna, Assistant Festival Director
Hello Everyone -
This past Sunday meant another great concert at the Basically Beethoven Festival as Rising Star Artist Katelan Tran Terrell and feature performers from The Dallas Opera Orchestra took to the stage. First, Ms. Terrell won over the audience with fantastic performances of both Beethoven and Gershwin. At 3:00, Dallas Opera Orchestra musicians delighted us with the sounds of Verdi, Wagner, and Janacek. Musicians included Forest Aten on bass clarinet, Kareen Britt on flute and piccolo, Stewart Williams on oboe and English horn, Shannon Highland on bassoon, Daryl Coad on clarinet, and Brian Brown on French horn. Thank you to all our wonderful performers for such a great concert!
Next week we have another treat as the festival closes with a “String Extravaganza” concert. First, musicians from the Suzuki Institute will open the concert on the Rising Star Recital. Then, the Aeolus Quartet performs Beethoven’s masterpiece Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132.
We can’t wait to see everyone at the finale concert!
Tori Brenna, Assistant Festival Director
Hello Everyone -
What a fantastic concert this week! First, Terri and Gabriel Sanchez entertained the audience with the delightful sounds of Bach, Gaubert, and Piston. Then, Yuri Anshelevich played several beautiful pieces by Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Beethoven, and Schumann, with Gabriel Sanchez on piano. It was an exciting celebration of both flute and cello music.
Next week, Katelan Tran Terrell will open the concert, playing piano music on the Rising Star Recital. Following Katelan will be members of The Dallas Opera Orchestra, who will perform chamber music by Verdi, Janá?ek, and Wagner.
We’ll see you soon,
Tori Brenna, Assistant Festival Director
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What wonderful performances last Sunday from Sahun Hong, Gary Levinson, and Daredjan ‘Baya’ Kakouberi! At 2:30 Mr. Hong took to the stage and opening the concert with a lively Handel piece. From there he played Schumman’s “Fantasiestücke,” and it certainly was a fantastic journey. Sahun’s rousing concert closed with a piece by Prokofiev.
At 3:00 Gary Levinson, Senior Associate Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Daredjan ‘Baya’ Kakouberi, pianist, took to the stage to play Beethoven Sonata’s No. 5 and 7. Gary and Baya were as charming as the music was beautiful, and they closed the second concert the series with a splash.
This coming Sunday, Terri Sanchez, First Prize winner of the National Flute Association Competition will open the concert on the Rising Star Recital with pianist Gabriel Sanchez. You may have seen Terri this week on Good Morning Texas, playing a lively piece on the Family First segment of the show. Here is a clip of her performance!
Following Terri, Yuri Anshelevich, Associate Principal Cellist of the Dallas Symphony will present selections by Beethoven, Brahms, and Schumann with pianist Gabriel Sanchez. It promises to be a delightful afternoon of cello music.
We can’t wait to see you at the festival!
Tori Brenna, Assistant Festival Director
Hello Everyone –
We had a great concert last Sunday afternoon! Oboist Allison Whitfield along with pianist Annie Lin opened the concert with the Rising Star Recital, and delighted the audience with the sounds of Mozart and Saint-Saëns. Afterwards, Imperial Brass took to the stage for the feature performance. It was certainly “A Time Traveler’s Concert” as the brass band took the audience on a journey from Gabrieli to Grainger. And of course, what Fourth of July celebration would be complete without a salute to our Armed Forces, and a rousing march by John Philip Sousa. Thank you to Allison, Annie, and Imperial Brass for such a memorable opening concert.
Next week we have another treat as Sahun Hong, who at 16 years old just graduated from TCU’s music school, plays piano on our Rising Star Recital. Following Sahun will be Gary Levinson, Senior Associate Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Daredjan Baya Kakouberi, pianist. They will perform Beethoven Sonatas No. 5 and 7. It promises to be an exciting afternoon of classical music!
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Hello Everyone - 
We had a great concert last Sunday afternoon! Oboist Allison Whitfield along with pianist Annie Lin opened the concert with the Rising Star Recital, and delighted the audience with the sounds of Mozart and Saint-Saëns. Afterwards, Imperial Brass took to the stage for the feature performance. It was certainly “A Time Traveler’s Concert” as the brass band took the audience on a journey from Gabrieli to Grainger. And of course, what Fourth of July celebration would be complete without a salute to our Armed Forces, and a rousing march by John Philip Sousa. Thank you to Allison, Annie, and Imperial Brass for such a memorable opening concert.
