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News
2006 |
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Second
season for MfB doubles the number of participants
Music@ Felcino Bianco held its second season of strings and
chamber music from 16th - 29th July 2006. Again, entitled
MasterClass Music Citerna in recognition of the tremendous
and valued help and support that we get from the Comune in
Citerna, the course is becoming a mini-festival which attracts
full houses to the concerts given during the course, both
by members of The Bekova Trio and by the participants, of
which more later
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One
of the participants, Adam Whone from London, is a distinguished stringed
instrument dealer and restorer as well as a violinist. On impulse
and with his enthusiastic support we suggested to the two Comune of
Citerna and Gubbio (a magnificent ducal city in Umbria which also
contains a school of lutherie) that since Adam would be present at
the course he might also give a seminar for luthiers and would-be
luthiers on violin restoration. In addition one of our concerts would
be held in Gubbio. This offer was eagerly accepted by the two commune
and with their help the School was able to hold the seminar which
was well attended, during the second week of the course. Naturally
all the course also attended the concert given in Gubbio which was
held in the marvellously restored eighteenth-century theatre. An article
is being prepared by Adam for publication, on his seminar and time
spent in Citerna with his family. Above left, you can see him and
Daniel rehearsing with Eleonora and Alfia. |
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Musicians
attending the course in 2006 began arriving even well before the advertised
dates for MasterClass Music Citerna, as well as staying on after it
finished, so as to benefit from personal tuition from Elvira for as
long as possible. We are able to accommodate small numbers of people
wishing to spend extra time with us for additional lessons and for
2007 we are contemplating running a second course for violin players
immediately after MasterClass Music Citerna in association with the
Comune in Monterchi, already known to flute-players for supporting
Ransom Wilson's masterclasses. Musicians arrived from the USA, UK,
South Africa, Cyprus and Italy, in time for a splendid opening concert
by The Bekova Trio. The musical theme for this year was obvious given
important anniversaries for Mozart and Shostakovich and for the opening
concert the Trio gave a splendid performance of Mozart's Trio in D
Major KV 458 together with Beethoven's second trio from Opus no. 1
and the awe-inspiring Tchaikovsky Trio in A minor Op. 50 written "in
memory of the great artist", on the death of his friend Nicolai
Rubinstein. This musical feast was followed by a gastronomic one graciously
provided by the Comune to whom our thanks. |
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As
usual day one began with auditioning the participants to assess capabilities,
to agree on pieces for study and to schedule individual lessons. Meanwhile
Elvira and her sisters started planning the ensemble work that would
be developed during the next two weeks, culminating in the final concert
to be performed by the students with or without the teachers. Apart
from violin and cello players there were two pianists who came to
take advantage of working with Eleonora Bekova. One a lady of mature
years who had travelled all the way from Albuquerque, New Mexico and
the other a remarkable grade eight pianist of only ten years of age,
of Russian maternal parentage and living in the UK. He was to play
a major part in providing piano accompaniment, trio-playing and personal
performance as well as page-turning. Everyone enjoyed him. |
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al
fresco discussions during a masterclass; right, ensemble rehearsing
inside Felcino Bianco |
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As
work progressed through the first week members of the Trio also prepared
fo two more concerts. The first entitled Omaggio a Mozart featured
Mozart's Duo for violin and cello KV 423, stunningly played by Elvira
and Alfia Bekova, together with the prodigious E flat major Trio by
Schubert written at the height of his powers in 1827 and performed
wonderfully in this delightful little eighteenth-century theatre in
Gubbio by the Sisters. The course participants among the audience
were riveted by this majestic piece. Debussy' beautiful sonata for
violin and piano, Ravel's Tzigane and two arrangements by the Bekova
Sisters of Prokofiev and Stravinsky completed a memorable evening
in this lovely little Umbrian town with its splendid ducal palace. |
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The
third concert was a violin recital in which Elvira (seen left) was
accompanied by her sister Eleonora, honouring both Mozart and Shostakovich.
The stunning Mozart sonata for violin and piano in B flat major KV
378 was followed by Ziganov's remarkable arrangements of Shostakovich'
10 preludes. The audience was fascinated to hear that Ziganov was
teaching in Moscow when Eleonora was herself a student at the Conservatoire.
The interval was followed by the enchanting Sonata for violin by Franck
and by Midsummer Moon by Rebecca Clarke, previously recorded en premiere
by Elvira herself. The Tchaikovsky Valse - Scherzo, thrillingly played
by Elvira ended the concert. These concerts were an object lesson
in how to perform some of the very best strings and ensemble work
in the world and it was evident just how much the students appreciated
being able to hear and understand such superb music. |
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Into
the second week individual lessons had continued but now with the
pressure coming on to perform ensemble and the choosing of a programme
that would not only entertain the audience at the final concert but
give the participants the opportunity to show not only how they had
benefited from their intensive tuition but also to enjoy performing
themselves - and did they do that! The programme of Mozart (Divertimento
for Piano Trio KV254), Prokofiev's Russian Dance from the ballet The
Stone Flower, Vivaldi's Sonata in E minor for cello and piano and
Leclair's Sonata for two violins completed a ravishing first half.
No les entertaining was a second half including the Allegro from Haydn's
trio in D minor, Shostakovich' Preludium and Fugue in B flat major
and Lizst' In Memoriam Pitofis played solo by Daniel, our youngest
participant (seen here working with Elvira), which was followed by
Mozart's Allegro from the G minor Quartet KV 478. We were privileged
to have the assistance of Peter Hopkins' viola playing during the
course and this concert. Peter's two sons learning violin and cello
repectively enjoyed the progress that they made during their attendance
on the course. |
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The
Concert ended with a fascinating variation for strings and piano (seen
below left). James Hesford, who had joined us for the second week,
a notable jazz cello player along with Alfia Bekova, and composer,
had taken the group in hand for something they never really expected
to be doing namely performing a jazz piece - Average White Band's
piece (arr. James Hesford) "Pick up the Pieces". There was
really nothing more to say after that! One thing, a comment made by
an experienced cellist participant - He had never seen a group of
musicians from such disparate origins bond together so well for what
was a fascinating journey into music. This was also evident from the
fact that the entire course voted itself an excellent Tuscan dinner
at a nearby restaurant (below right). |
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In
closing we should mention the masterclasses held during the course.
Last year we had a combined strings masterclass on the topics of Bach's
music with Elvira and Alfia demonstrating. This year we split the
violinists from the cellists but to discuss the same topic. Elvira
and Alfia led their students in the difficult topic of "Aspects
of strings-playing technique", while Adam Whone, luthier, spoke
spoke on the essential topic of "Caring for one's Instrument".
It is part of our philosophy at MfB that we tackle questions that
are in the back of musicians' minds but which they often have little
opportunity to discuss freely and we will continue to do this. |
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Programme
for 2007
The 2007 season is being constructed as we write and we can say
that we propose two courses for this year. Thanks to our friends
in the Comune at Citerna, MasterClass Music Citerna will take place
from 15th - 28th July with residence in the Sobaria Hotel in Citerna
and we are planning a second course in Monterchi, very nearby, for
violinists. Piano accompaniment will be available for this second
course. At the moment dates are not final but are expected to be
during the first two weeks of August. As last year participants
will be able arrive before the 15th July and can stay on beyond
even the second course. You just have to think about how long you
want to be with us and we will find ways to make it happen. Terms
and conditions will be published on the website and in brochures
as soon as our plans are final. Meantime please get in touch with
us at MfB on +39-0575-70778 or music@felcinobianco.com
We
look forward to hearing from you.
Michael
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| ©
M Humphreys & E Bekova, 2003 - 2010 |
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