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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2009
CONTACT: Molly Dannenmaier
Director of Marketing and Public Relations,
409-765-7834
Galveston Historical Foundation to Host Chamber Concert Series at Galveston Historic Sites
“History, Community, Recovery” Theme Links Historic Buildings with Historic Music
Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) and Restoration Chamber Music, a group of classical musicians associated with Rice University and the Houston Symphony, announced a series of three chamber music concerts that will link each musical program to a building, each under GHF stewardship, in which they will be performed.
Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) and Restoration Chamber Music, a group of classical musicians associated with Rice University and the Houston Symphony, announced a series of three chamber music concerts that will link each musical program to a building, each under GHF stewardship, in which they will be performed.
“I've always been fascinated by the emotional power of architecture,” said Evan Leslie, executive artistic director of the group. “I respond to an inspiring space just as I respond to an inspiring piece of music.
The idea for the series grew out of Leslie’s awareness, as he finished his graduate studies at Rice University, that classical music was suffering from shrinking audiences. He was determined to find ways to make “historic” music more relevant to people today.
“People who care about historic buildings can relate to this problem. Too often people see classical music and historic buildings as untouchable artifacts, of little use in their lives today. By offering great music in historic sites that are somehow related we hope to provide our audience with a deeper, more sensual encounter with their community's heritage.”
He discussed the idea of site-specific programs of classical music with his teacher and graduate advisor, cellist Brinton Avril Smith, who wanted to know what Leslie, already an accomplished and acclaimed musician, planned to do with his graduate degree.
“A few weeks after graduation,” Leslie says, “Brinton called to say that he and his wife, Evelyn Chen, were interested in giving it a try.” Galveston, with its rich history embodied in a collection of restored century-and-a-half old buildings, seemed an appropriate place to start. After Hurricane Ike delivered the city’s gravest challenge since the Great Storm of 1900, the idea of finding new ways to connect with such a rich heritage became even more important.
“We’re glad that GHF, and its executive director, Dwayne Jones, were so receptive to the idea, and had such a great collection of venues to offer us,” said Leslie. “It’s been a good collaboration.”
All proceeds from the concert series will benefit GHF’s ongoing programs of preservation, restoration, education and recovery. Admission to each concert is $25, or $22.50 for GHF members. Reservations may be made by calling GHF at 409-765-7834. The schedule is as follows:
1. “Custom House: The Forgotten Gateway,” 7 p.m. Friday, May 22. at the 1861 U. S. Custom House, GHF headquarters, 502 20th Street.
The program, featuring music for cello and piano plus songs for soprano and piano, will commemorate Galveston’s distinguished history as an entrance point for immigrants. The wide ranging program includes works by Sergei Rachmaninov, Paul Hindemith, and Kurt Weill, all composers who immigrated to the United States.
2. “Garten Verein, Legacy of Friendship,” 7 p.m. Friday, May 29 at the Garten Verein Pavilion, 2704 Ave. O
Garten Verein, the 1880 German dancing pavilion operated by GHF, will be the scene of the second concert, a program that includes a trio for clarinet, cello and piano and a quintet for woodwinds and strings. It celebrates community and friendship with the products of famous musical friendships and collaborations, including the Brahms/Joachim Hungarian Dances, the Brahms Clarinet trio, and the Strauss/Hasenhorl arrangement of Till Eulenspiegel.
“All of these composers lived and worked at the time the Garten Verein was built,” said Leslie. “Our program reflects the legacy of this cherished landmark.”
3. “Heroic Gratitude,” 7 p.m. Sunday, June 7 at St. Joseph’s Church, 2202 Avenue K
The last concert features Beethoven’s Quartet no. 15, Opus 132. This work is Beethoven’s profound hymn of thanksgiving. After struggling through life-threatening illness, Beethoven experienced a miraculous revival. He completed this monumental string quartet as a powerful testament to recovery. Restoration Chamber Music offers this concert to celebrate the resilient spirit of Galveston.
About Restoration Chamber Music:
Restoration Chamber Music was founded by cellist Evan Leslie with his Rice University graduate advisor and teacher, cellist Brinton Averil Smith, and Smith’s wife, pianist Evelyn Chen.
Evan Leslie performs in a wide variety of styles, from authentic baroque to boundary-breaking new music. Evan has performed in music festivals and institutes in Italy, Canada, and throughout the United States. Based in Houston, Texas, he has been featured on the Hobby Center’s Uniquely Houston Series and the St. Luke’s Seraphim Series.
Most recently, Leslie was a featured guest artist at the University of Houston, where he presented a retrospective of music by Australian composer, Peter Sculthorpe. He also performs frequently at the University of St. Thomas’s chamber music series. As a student, Evan worked with many of music’s most luminary artists and teachers, including Mischa Maisky, Lynn Harrell, Ko Iwasaki, Colin Carr, and Christina Mahler. Most significantly, Leslie was one of four American cellists selected to perform for Mstislav Rostropovich at the seventh American Cello Congress.
Pianist Evelyn Chen, a Steinway Artist, has performed with numerous orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra (upon Mstislav Rostropovich's recommendation), the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, the New Zealand Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, the State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, and the San Diego Symphony. She has collaborated with renowned conductors including Riccardo Muti, Leonard Slatkin, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Zdenek Macal, Joseph Silverstein, and JoAnn Falletta.
Ms. Chen’s recent recordings have received international critical acclaim. Her recording of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with Leonard Slatkin and the Philharmonia Orchestra of London on Sony/BMG was among the top ten best-selling classical recordings in England.
Ms. Chen received a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Juilliard School, a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory, and a Bachelor of Arts in composition, Magna Cum Laude with highest honors, from Harvard University. Her teachers include pianists Russell Sherman, Earle Voorhies, Constance Keene, and Jerome Lowenthal, and composers Leon Kirchner and David Lewin. She is currently Associate Professor of Piano at Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York City.
American cellist Brinton Averil Smith has performed as soloist, chamber musician and in recital throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada and New Zealand. Mr. Smith's engagements include performances at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, Carnegie Recital Hall, the Marlboro Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival and the Banff Centre for the Arts and appearances with orchestras in Detroit, Houston, San Diego, New Jersey, Fort Worth, Tucson, Las Vegas, San Jose, Phoenix, Wellington and Auckland. His recent recording of Fauré’s Piano Trio and Après un Rêve with Gil Shaham for Vanguard Classics was selected as one of BBC Music magazine’s best albums of the year.
Smith has appeared regularly as a soloist with the Houston Symphony since joining the orchestra as principal cellist in 2005. Prior to this, he was a member of the New York Philharmonic, and was the first musician appointed by music director Lorin Maazel. He was also previously the principal cellist of the San Diego and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Smith is currently a member of the faculty at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, and has given masterclasses throughout the United States and served as a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University.
For more information on Restoration Chamber Music, see:
http://www.restorationchambermusic.com/Home.html .
Light refreshments will be provided. All proceeds from the concert series will benefit GHF’s ongoing programs of preservation, restoration, education and recovery. Admission to each concert is $25, or $22.50 for GHF members. Reservations: 409-765-7834, or send your request for reservations by email to education@galvestonhistory.org.
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