World-acclaimed Spanish cellist Pablo Casals (1876-1973) had a career that spanned 80 years. He played for both Queen Victoria and President John F Kennedy. Three decades after his death, Casals’ widow entrusted his cello to the Israeli-American cellist Amit Peled. Now Peled will take the cello he calls “a wild horse ready to run” on a journey across America beginning with two performances at the Sunriver Music Festival; a solo recital August 16 and a closing concert August 18.
“It is an honor to be the first stop on Amit’s American road trip. We can’t wait to share his artistry with our audience,” states Pam Beezley, executive director of the Sunriver Music Festival.
Beezley points out that from the United States to Europe to the Middle East and Asia, Peled was voted by Musical America as one of the most Influential Music Professionals of 2015.
In a feature story in the New York Times, Peled reflected on the honor of playing sucha celebrated instrument and the unique nature of bringing classical music to where it belongs, to people living in rural America.
“This cello made the journey with the maestro from Spain into world fame. All the major recordings of Casals were created with this instrument,” explains Peled.
“So I’m just going to go with my family, and have my daughter manage a Twitter account and investigate what our next stop should be. We’ll stop every place we can and perform for local audiences.”
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FESTIVAL EXPANDS AUGUST OFFERINGS
A second Pops Concert featuring Pink Martini’s lead man Thomas M. Lauderdale, the addition of a guest conductor, and more performances than ever in Sunriver and Bend highlight the final performance schedule released today by the Sunriver Music Festival.
CLASSICAL CONCERT I – Sunday, August 7, 7:30pm
Sunriver Resort Great Hall – Featuring pianist William Wolfram performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1plus the Beethoven Symphony No. 6 Pastorale and Dvorak’s In Nature’s Realm.
FAMILY CONCERT – Monday, August 8, 4pm
Sunriver Resort Great Hall – This educational and entertaining concert presents orchestral music in a fun and informal setting. Bring the whole family and enjoy a one-hour concert in the beautiful Great Hall.
PIANO MASTER CLASS – Monday, August 8, 6pm
Sunriver Resort Great Hall – Pianist William Wolfram will instruct a piano master class for five advanced piano students.
PIANO & VIOLIN RECITAL – Tuesday, August 9, 7:30pm
Sunriver Resort Great Hall – Featuring pianist William Wolfram & violinist Steven Moeckel performing Liszt’s Dante Sonata for Piano and Franck’s Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano.
CLASSICAL CONCERT II – Wednesday, August 10, 7:30pm
Sunriver Resort Great Hall – Featuring the popular Concierto de Aranjuez for Classical Guitar plus Respighi’s The Birds and de Falla’sThree Cornered Hat Suites. Soloists Adam del Monte, classical guitar and Alexander Lipay, flute.
CLASSICAL CONCERT III – Friday, August 12, 7:30pm
Tower Theatre, Bend – Guest Conductor Frank Diliberto leads the orchestra’s performance of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 “The Great G Minor” plus brass antiphonal choir selections by Gabrieli. Violinist Steven Moeckel leads the string section in Vivaldi’s famous The Four Seasons.
POPS CONCERT – Sunday, August 14, Monday, August 15, 7:30pm
Summit High School, Bend – Featuring Pink Martini’s lead man Thomas M. Lauderdale joined by pianist and Young Artists Scholarship Alumnus Hunter Noack performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for two pianos plus orchestra and Lauderdale’s Afro-Cuban arrangement of Prokofiev’s Peter & The Wolf.
CELLO RECITAL – Tuesday, August 16, 7:30pm
Sunriver Resort Great Hall – A special solo concert with Amit Peled performing on Pablo Casals’ historic 1733 instrument accompanied by pianist Stefan Petrov.
CLASSICAL CONCERT IV – Thursday, August 18, 7:30pm
Sunriver Resort Great Hall – Featuring cellist Amit Peled performing Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme and Bruch’s KolNidre. The 39th Season closes with Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 Spring.
The Festival’s 39th season runs from August 7–18 and is full of classical concerts, masterclasses, music workshops, family concerts, fundraisers and open rehearsals. Many of the visiting musicians from prestigious orchestras are handpicked for the Sunriver Music Festival Orchestra by Artistic Director George Hanson.
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