Lyonel Feininger

Lyonel Feininger By Barbara Haskell Written for the concert Bauhaus Bach, performed on Oct 21, 2011 at Carnegie Hall. Lyonel Feininger—world-renowned painter, printmaker, and caricaturist—was born in New York City on July 17, 1871 to German-American parents, both concertizing musicians. By age nine, he was studying violin with his father; by 12, he was performing…

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Lyonel Feininger, Fugues

Lyonel Feininger, Fugues By Richard Wilson Written for the concert Bauhaus Bach, performed on Oct 21, 2011 at Carnegie Hall. I have chosen three of Feininger’s twelve fugues to arrange for full orchestra: one numbered IV, written in Weimar in 1921; one numbered III and subtitled “Gigue,” written in Weimar soon after; and “Fugue in…

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Passover in Exile

Passover in Exile By Leon Botstein Written for the concert Passover in Exile, performed on April 21, 2011 at Carnegie Hall. It is not unusual for us to view the making of art as somehow discretionary and perhaps even decorative, distant from what is truly important in life. Our construction of what is of value…

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Passover in Exile

Passover in Exile 04/21/2011 at 08:00 PM – Carnegie HallThe annual Passover reading of the Haggadah was particularly meaningful for German Jewish composer Paul Dessau during his exile in Paris. Suppressed for decades, this grand choral work finally gets its U.S. premiere. Conductor’s Notes Maestro Leon Botstein explains it all in special Q&A sessions starting…

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Paul Dessau, Haggadah shel Pesach

Paul Dessau, Haggadah shel Pesach By Laura Silverberg Written for the concert Passover in Exile, performed on April 21, 2011 at Carnegie Hall. On the eve of Hitler’s rise to power, German-Jewish composer Paul Dessau was enjoying a successful career as a conductor and composer. While still a teenager, Dessau was a rehearsal pianist and…

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Beethoven's Symphony No. 9

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 04/12/2011 at 07:00 PM – Peter Norton Symphony Space Partial view seats are available for $10 each by calling the Symphony Space Box Office at 212.864.5400. These seats have a full view of conductor Leon Botstein for the discussion, performance, and Q&A. Hear a musical tale about the origin of Beethoven’s…

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Beethoven's Symphony No. 8

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 04/10/2011 at 04:00 PM – Peter Norton Symphony SpaceHear a musical tale about the origin of Beethoven’s eighth symphony, then enjoy a full performance and Q&A with Maestro Botstein and the orchestra. Concert Notes

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American Harmonies: The Music of Walter Piston

American Harmonies: The Music of Walter Piston 03/29/2011 at 08:00 PM – Carnegie Hall Piston is a legendary figure, a largely self-taught “composer’s composer” who has had a profound impact on contemporary American music. Enjoy two of his award-winning symphonies as the teacher gets his night in the spotlight. Conductor’s Notes Maestro Leon Botstein explains…

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Walter Piston

Walter Piston By Carol J. Oja Written for the concert American Harmonies: The Music of Walter Piston, performed on March 29, 2011 at Carnegie Hall. There are few opportunities these days to hear live performances of the deeply felt, sonorously-shaped music of the New England composer Walter Piston. His colleague and contemporary Aaron Copland called…

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The Context of Music: The Spanish Civil War

The Context of Music: The Spanish Civil War By Leon Botstein Written for the concert The Music of Spain: Composers of the Civil War, performed on Feb 25, 2011 at Carnegie Hall. The modern political history of Spain began formally with the declaration of the Second Republic of Spain (the so-called “first” republic was a…

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