Sunday, June 13th, 2010
BARUCH MEIR, Solo Pianist
Chopin 200th Birthday Tribute - 2 p.m.
Price: Adults $20/Festival Series $90
Baruch Meir is an International Bösendorfer Concert Artist of major stature, among only 65 artists worldwide holding that distinction since the founding of the company in 1828. Performing frequently in his native Israel, in Austria, England, France, Portugal, Korea, China, and most recently, Italy and Serbia, Baruch Meir is a new generation artist following in the line of the great Romantic tradition teachers. Those teachers include Pnina Salzman (Israel’s first lady of the piano and the only child prodigy taught by Alfred Cortot), Michael Bugoslavsky, Irina Zaritskaya (A winner of the Chopin competition in Warsaw), Rachel Gordon, and Valter Aufheuser. His many distinctions include the American-Israeli Cultural Foundation Awards and the British Council Fellowship. In demand as both artist and master teacher, Dr. Meir also teaches at summer music festivals in Europe including Musicfest Perugia in Italy and the Vianden International Festival in Luxembourg. Baruch Meir brings his dazzling virtuosity, romanticism, and abundant lyricism in a memorable festival tribute to the true poet of the piano. He will perform the great late works of Chopin, including the Barcarolle, Berceuse, Fourth Ballade, and Nocturnes and Mazurkas. Join the gala festival opening "Meet the Artist" post-concert dinner by special additional reservation/fee in the intimacy of the Abiquiu Inn's Galeria Arriba at 505.685.4378 or at abiquiuinn@zianet.com .
Sunday, June 27th, 2010
VIRGINIA DUPUY, Mezzo-Soprano and SHIELDS-COLLINS BRAY, Piano
The Magical, Mystical Messiaen - 2 p.m.
Price: Adults $20/Festival Series $90
This concert is underwritten through the generosity of Earle and Ruth Lomon, Cambridge, MA and Los Alamos, NM. Rarely does one have the opportunity to hear two such perfectly-matched collaborators offer more than a "bon-bon" of Messiaen on a program, but an entire recital performance of this incomparable, unequaled 20th century French composer will be yet another event unique to ACMF. Virginia Dupuy has earned a reputation as one of the finest recital and concert singers in the U.S. by having championed American Music in recordings such as the Grammy nominated “Voces Americanas” and premiering the role of “Crone” in Conrad Susa’s opera “Wise Women”. Fanfare magazine hailed Dupuy's recording of Dominick Argento’s Pulitzer Prize Winner “From the Diary of Virginia Woolf” as one of the top classical recordings of the Year. Ms. Dupuy made her Lincoln Center debut with the American Symphony Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall and has appeared with the Orchestras of Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Eugene, and Honolulu. Her frequent collaborator, Shields-Collins Bray, is principal keyboardist of the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra, appearing many times as soloist with the orchestra, most recently in works by Liszt, Janacek, and Britten. He has appeared also as soloist with symphony orchestras of Dallas, Jacksonville, and New Orleans, and with the Buffalo Philharmonic. A student of International Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Stephen DeGroote, Mr. Bray was recently pianist in Miguel Harth-Bedoya's The Passion of Tango with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. Ms. Dupuy and Mr. Bray unite their unique artistry to the richly hued palette of Messiaen's music---both solo piano selections from his Vingt Regards and drawing from the vast wealth of his compositions for voice and piano. Sung and played among the natural setting of the Rio Chama, this will be a mesmerizing performance. Join the festival's "Meet the Artists" post-concert dinner by special additional reservation/fee in the intimacy of the Abiquiu Inn's Galeria Arriba at 505.685.4378 or at abiquiuinn@zianet.com .
Sunday, July 11th, 2010
DAVID LEISNER, Classical Guitarist
TWO Solo Performances: SATURDAY and Sunday - July 10 and July 11, Both at 2 p.m.
Price: Adults $20/Festival Series $90
The refined artistry of David Leisner is recognized throughout the U.S. and abroad for his prolific recording, distinguished compositions, concertizing, and master teaching. David Leisner's recent performing seasons have taken him around the U.S., including his solo debut with the Atlanta Symphony, a major tour of Australia and New Zealand, and debuts and reappearances in Japan, the Philippines, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, the U.K., Italy, Czech Republic, Greece, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Considered one of the world's leading classical guitarists, his superb musicianship and provocative programming have been applauded by critics and audiences around the world. He has been acclaimed a "triple-threat performer" by The New York Times and a "serious, exploratory and imaginative musician" by The Boston Globe. Mr. Leisner's career as a guitarist began auspiciously with top prizes in both the 1975 Toronto and 1981 Geneva International Guitar Competitions. David Leisner brings an intriguing program, including the Bach Chaconne, 3 Villa-Lobos Preludes, and will introduce New Mexico audiences to the unique works of Matiegka---the "Czech Beethoven"-- through his masterful Sonata. Another "NM First" at ACMF, David will perform the NM Premiere of a new, half-hour masterpiece of David Del Tredici's Facts of Life, written for the artist and just premiered in NYC two months prior to this performance. Join the Festival's "Meet the Artist" post-concert dinner on SUNDAY by additional special reservation/fee in the intimacy of the Abiquiu Inn's Galeria Arriba at 505.685.4378 or abiquiuinn@zianet.com .
Sunday, July 25th, 2010
TRIO ARRIBA
Masterpieces of the Russian Moderns - 2 p.m.
Price: Adults $20/Festival Series $90
When one has the artistic opportunity to form both a "dream program" and mesh it with a "dream team" of musicians, the combination can be nothing short of musically combustible. Returning from two stunning performances in the ACMF 2009 season, pianist Natalya Shkoda has formed her "heart's desire" in the Trio Arriba with violinist David Felberg and cellist Sally Guenther, two other remarkable artists. Trio Arriba makes its formal concert debut here at the festival with a program of masterpieces from the Russian classical repertoire. In addition to solo piano works with Ms. Shkoda, the program includes Prokofiev's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94b, the Rachmaninoff Trio Elegiac No. 1 in G Minor, and concludes with the electrifying Shostakovich Trio in E Minor, Op. 67. Natalya Shkoda is one of the most dynamic and exciting young piano artists today. Natalya has performed widely in Ukraine, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, France, and throughout the U.S. Natalya was both solo and chamber collaborator during the 2009 ACMF. Violinist David Felberg is Associate Concertmaster of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and has performed as concerto soloist with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Albuquerque Philharmonic, Noisy Neighbors Chamber Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, Santa Fe Symphony, and Chautauqua Festival Orchestra. David made his New York City debut in Merkin Hall and was a member of the Helios String Quartet for four years. Sally Guenther, cellist, is a worldwide artist of extensive orchestral, chamber, and solo experience throughout Europe, Asia, and the U.S. After working in numerous U.S. orchestras--including the Met Opera Orchestra--Sally served as cellist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway for twenty years and was also a member of the contemporary ensemble, BIT 20, an internationally recognized group which records and travels extensively in Europe and Asia. Sally was on tour for six weeks this spring throughout Europe with the ensemble. With these three dynamic collaborators performing the best of the Russian chamber repertoire, this is a "must hear" concert. Join the festival's "Meet the Artists" post-concert dinner in the intimacy of the Abiquiu Inn's Galeria Arriba by special additional reservation/fee at 505.685.4378 or at abiquiuinn@zianet.com .
Sunday, August 8th, 2010
HALL ENSEMBLE with SHIELDS-COLLINS BRAY, Piano
Robert Schumann's 200th with a Few of His Favorite Friends - 2 p.m.
Price: Adults $20/Festival Series $90
Back by popular audience demand after their SOLD OUT Abiquiu Chamber Music Festival 2009 debut, the Hall Ensemble's return with pianist Shields Collins Bray will prove to be a program for the long-term musical memory. Their program features one of chamber music's most incomparable works: Schumann's Piano Quartet in Eb, a tribute to this great composer's 200th birthday. All five of the ensemble are members of the Ft. Worth Symphony and love the symphonic repertoire but cherish their opportunities to explore the more personal, intimate expression afforded through chamber music. The artists hail from throughout the U.S. prior to their professional relocations to Ft. Worth and have solo and recital accomplishments as well as their symphonic careers. Don't miss their exhilarating, vibrant interpretation of the Schumann masterpiece, as well as complementary chamber works from Schumann's innermost circle of composer friends--his wife Clara Schumann, Johannes Brahms, and other Romantic contemporaries of the Schumann household. Join the Festival's "Meet the Artists" post-concert dinner by special additional reservation/fee in the intimacy of the Abiquiu Inn's Galeria Arriba at 505.685.4378 or abiquiuinn@zianet.com .
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
R. CARLOS NAKAI, Native American Flute
TWO Performances, SATURDAY and Sunday, August 21 and 22 at 2pm
Price: Adults $20/Festival Series $90
Bridging two worlds, R. Carlos Nakai of Navajo-Ute heritage is the world’s premiere performer of the Native American flute. As an artist, he is an iconoclastic traditionalist who views his cultural heritage not only as a source and inspiration, but also as a dynamic continuum of natural change, growth and adaptation subject to unique interpretation of the individual. Since 1983 Nakai has released thirty-eight albums with Canyon Records plus additional albums and guest appearances with other labels. Nakai has developed a career as a classical soloist performing over twenty-five times with symphony orchestras. He joined opera veterans Isola Jones and Robert Breault as a lead soloist in a concert-opera, Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Roses by James DeMars which was recently released by Canyon Records. Nakai has sold over four million albums in the course of his career, and earned two gold records (500,000 units sold) for Canyon Trilogy and Earth Spirit. He has received eight Grammy® nominations and won eight Native American Music Awards. In addition to works for solo Native Flute, featured contemporary composers on the program are James DeMars and the World Premiere of Ruth Lomon's Re-Weaving(s) (2010) for Native Flute, Chant, Clarinet, Cello, Piano and Percussion. Join the festival's closing "Meet the Artists" post-concert dinner on SUNDAY in the intimacy of the Abiquiu Inn's Galeria Arriba at 505.685.4378 or at abiquiuinn@zianet.com .
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