|
|
Sister
Mendelssohn -November 25, 2007
Southwest Premiere
a
brief description
"I cannot help
considering it a sign of talent that I do not give it up, though I can
get nobody to take an interest in my efforts."- Fanny
Mendelssohn (sister of Felix), 1836
 Harry Clark created "Sister Mendelssohn " as a companion
to "Song Without Words", the very first book Harry ever wrote for
Theodore Bikel, some seventeen years ago.
Fanny & Felix Mendelssohn were two of the greatest musical
wunderkinds the world has ever known.
At age 16 her father declared that in the future music for her was to
be an “ornament”. Despite the enormous constraints put on her by
family, she managed to compose nearly 400 works, all done and performed
in the privacy of her home. Through Fanny’s words gathered from
letters, diaries and recollections of friends, the enormity of her
achievement is brought to life in an integrated work of words and music
created equally by brother Felix and Fanny herself.
About the music
The musical selections are for cello and
piano by Fanny and Felix.
Throughout their lives they had an extremely close personal and musical
relationship, Felix often depending on Fanny for advice about his
works. Despite being discouraged by both him and her father from
publishing her works, her music music was heard at the Sunday morning
'Musicales' at their house in Berlin, which were attended by eminent
musicians. Goethe was not alone in considering her to be just as gifted
as her genius brother. While people often compare her music with that
of Felix, her expression is of an altogether more passionate nature.
Her music is only now coming to light and being published.
Performers
 We are thrilled to welcome to the Old Pueblo Talia
Shire.
Like Fanny, Talia born into a family of emigrants teeming with artistic
gifts plunging her into an environment dominated by masculinity,
especially a masculine struggle for achievement.
She was born Talia Rose Coppola.
The Coppolas, much like the Mendelssohns, relished in their ancestral
origins, especially the heritage of music and painting, but they reared
their children in the mold of genuine Americans, encouraging them to
become doctors and lawyers. Rubbing shoulders with these
overachieving relatives encouraged young Talia to take a back seat and
not to worry. She felt nothing was at stake for her. Having such
celebrated older brothers "makes two geniuses and one girl," she later
quipped. "In
an Italian
family, once you get that 'she's the baby' stuck on you, it's hard to
shake. Your opinion is invited, but you have to sort of sneak it
in and speak in a small voice. I must say, it's very
tiring. I don't' think I've ever raised my voice to those
two. But that's OK. We women endure. I got to
emerge later on."
For more on Talia, please click here.
The Clark Schuldmann Duo
will be on hand for this special program.
Performance details:
Show time: 3p.m.
Pre concert chat: 2:30 p.m.
Venue: Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 West Speedway Blvd.
Directions- Click
here for directions to the hall.
Individual Ticket Price: $30
Chamber Music PLUS SW appreciates
your consideration for support. Tickets and grants cover 80% of our
budget. Your support is much appreciated. Thank You
You are listenning to Notturno by Fanny Hensel performed by Judith Pfeiffer
|
|
|
Join Email List
