Paganini's 24 Caprices

A rare opportunity to hear a world-class violinist 

play one of the most challenging pieces in the repertoire

Friday 24th June, 6pm - one or two places left

Encore performance on Saturday 25th at 5pm

Graf Mourja, violin

playing a Giovanni Grancino violin, Milan,1707

Gold Medal 'Violin Masters' Competition, Monte Carlo, 2010

Russian President's Award (Yeltsin)

Honoured Artist of Russia, 2004

Paganini, 24 Caprices for Violin, Opus1

Nicolo Paganini was born in 1782 in Genoa. He was the original superstar of music. Liszt  in his teens was inspired by Paganini and went on to become a superstar himself, dazzling audiences on the piano has Paganini did on the violin.

Paganini is described by musicologist, Peter Gutmann, as

... a consummate showman. A favorite trick was to play with worn strings and then, as they broke, to complete a concert with the three, two or even one string remaining. His tickets cost up to five times the standard rate. He did little to discourage rumors that he consorted with the devil and surely looked the part, with a gaunt skeletal body, angular stiff movements, long black hair, sallow waxen complexion, dark penetrating eyes and entirely black dress.

"...gaunt skeletal body, angular stiff movements,
long black hair, sallow waxen complexion,
dark penetrating eyes and entirely black dress."

Paganini's 24 Caprices and Bach's suites and partitas are the definitive works for solo violin.The Caprices were composed in three batches, starting in 1802 and finished in 1817. 

The Caprices were written to dazzle. They comprise some of the most technically challenging music ever written for the violin. Only a handful of violinists in any epoch play them. According to Gutmann, "Few violinists dare to play Paganini nowadays, and even fewer seem willing to risk recording him."

The Caprices start off as a collection of technical studies. As they progress they become more complex, many taking the ABA form (theme A, theme B, back to theme A). They also become more lyrical, taking the style of Bel Canto opera, with extensive recitatives, arias and even duets. Some have motifs: two have hunting themes; one sounds like a bagpipe.

The culmination of the set is the famous No. 24 which is a theme and eleven variations. The theme has been used as the theme for variations by more composers than any other piece: not only Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Brahms, but a total of 46 composers and musicians are listed in Wikipedia as having written pieces based on No. 24.

We are very fortunate to have a violinist of the stature of Graf Mourja coming to play the Caprices for us. Graf has performed the complete set more than thirty times. He is currently a professor at Moscow Conservatory. 

His career began in the early nineties with a string of prizes at major international competitions, such as the Paganini Competition in Genoa, the Vianna da Motta in Lisbon, the Jacques Thibaud in Paris and the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Most recently, in 2010, Graf won the Gold Medal at the Violin Masters Competition in Monte Carlo. Graf also received the President's Award from Boris Yeltsin and is an Honoured Artist of Russia. 

Graf has recorded on top CD labels such as Harmonia Mundi and Melodia as well as recording for  Alpha, Integral, Hanssler-Verlag, Naxos, Chant du Monde and Classical Records. He has collaborated with pianists such as Barry Douglas and Denis Matsuev, amongst many others.

Graf plays a 1707 violin by Giovanni Grancino.

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person.

Email asiachart@hotmail.com for reservations. For more information call 038 069681 during office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Directions to Eelswamp: can be found at the bottom of this page:http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html. If you haven't been to Eelswamp before I strongly urge you to find the venue before the day of the concert.

Taxi service to Eelswamp: we recommend Grabtaxi

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Slavic dreams and dances

Cancelled

A program of Slavic music for piano 

with a generous portion of Chopin Mazurkas

 

Marina Horak, piano

"Marina Horak has a beautiful technique, passion and authority." 

Olivier Messiaen, Paris

"Exceptional qualities of a complete musician." Janez Matičič, composer, Paris, France

"Marina Horak is an excellent pianist. It was playing of immense colour and fire yet always in perfect control." Peter Platt, Professor of Music, University of Sydney, Australia

"This recital was one of the most moving experiences I have had for a long time and it will remain unforgettable for everyone who was present." Peter Feuchtwanger, pianist and composer, London

Sunday, 12th June, 5pm

Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Dumka op. 59 in C minor
A very popular solo piano piece with wonderful Russian melodies and dance rhythms. It was featured prominently among contestants in the Tchaikovsky Competition last year. 

Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937)
9 Préludes op. 1

Polish-Ukraine composer, Szymanowski wrote this tour de force at the age of 18. Despite his youth, and the obvious influence of Scriabin, the composer's unique style is apparent.

Marko Tajčević (1900-1984)
Seven Balkan Dances

This is one the composer's most famous and accessible pieces with fantastic 'ethnic' rhythms. It has been recorded extensively in both original piano version and orchestral version.

INTERVAL

Lucijan Marija Škerjanc (1900-1973)
Sonata (1956)

A very interesting short work by one of the most prominent Slovenian composers.

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Six Mazurkas
Mazurka op 24/1 G minor                                                                                                         Mazurka op 24/2 C major
Mazurka op 24/3 A flat major
Mazurka op. 68/2 A minor
Mazurka op. 17/4 A minor
Mazurka op. 50/3 C sharp minor

Chopin wrote at least 59 mazurkas - all of them wonderful. Marina will play six of them, ranging from early to late works.


Barcarolle op. 60 F sharp major. 
Enchanting work depicting a boat journey and probably inspired by a stormy voyage Chopin took from Marseilles to Genoa.

Marina Horak is a highly regarded and well-established Slovenian pianist. She has impressed many famous musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin and Olivier Messiaen. She was a student of Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Boulanger was the teacher of many great musicians of the twentieth century, such as Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, Daniel Barenboim and Astor Piazzolla. 

Marina is a winner of the Betetto Award, which is the highest musical award in Slovenia. Marina is now Professor of Chamber Music at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. She has a busy performance schedule which takes her all over the world and has played with orchestras, chamber groups and singers too many to mention here. Take a look at her website. http://www.marinahorak.com/en/biography

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person.

Email asiachart@hotmail.com for reservations. For more information call 038 069681 during office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Directions to Eelswamp: can be found at the bottom of this page:http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html. If you haven't been to Eelswamp before I strongly urge you to find the venue before the day of the concert.

Taxi service to Eelswamp: we recommend Grabtaxi

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Handel, Friends and Forefathers

Thursday, 2nd June, 6pm

Michele Benuzzi, harpsichord

"a level of tonal beauty that is unsurpassed...quite simply, phenomenal." Tomkins Forum

"...suitably exuberant, willful virtuosity." Good Music Guide 

"Absolute highest recommendation" Fanfare Magazine

All works to be performed on the Sassman Spinet

H.Scheidemann                       Toccata in C WV 85

(1595-1663)                           

                                                Praeambulum in F WV 40

                                               

                                                Praeambulum in C WV 30

J.Bull                                       Fantasia MB XV

(1562-1628)

H.Scheidt                                La Bergamasca SSWV 560

(1587-1654)

G.Farnaby                              Fantasia MB VI

(1560-1640)

J.C.F. Fischer                         Musicalischer Parnassus: Suite “Melpomene”

(1656-1746)

                                              

F.Chelleri                                Sonata I in La maggiore

(1686/90-1757)

                                               

G.F.Handel                             Prelude in d HWV 563

(1685-1759)

                                               Chaconne in F HWV 485

                                               Capriccio in F HWV 481

G.F.Handel                             Suite in d HWV 448

           

                                               

Michele Benuzzi is an Italian harpsichord player. He studied at the University of Pavia and Royal College of Music in London and is a prize winner in the Yamanashi International Harpsichord Competition in Japan. Michele gives concerts throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand and the UK. Among his recordings, a collection of works of JW Haessler was described by Christopher Brodersen, of Fanfare, as deserving "... the absolute highest recommendation".

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person.

Email asiachart@hotmail.com for reservations. For more information call 038 069681 during office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Directions to Eelswamp: can be found at the bottom of this page:http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html. If you haven't been to Eelswamp before I strongly urge you to find the venue before the day of the concert.

Taxi service to Eelswamp: we recommend Grabtaxi

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Mozart Free and Infatuated

Mozart's four Viennese Violin Sonatas of 1781

Tasana Nagavajara, violin and

Pornphan Banternghansa, piano

Sunday, 8th May, 5pm

In 1781, at the age of 25, Mozart finally threw in his lot with his unappreciative employer in Salzburg, the Prince-Archbishop Colloredo. He also distanced himself from his domineering father by moving to Vienna where he found fame as the finest keyboard player in the town. He also met and fell in love with his landlord's daughter, Constanze. Free and infatuated, Mozart wrote these four violin sonatas. 

Come and share Mozart's joy and exuberance, with an occasional touch of melodrama!

Mr and soon-to-be Mrs Mozart

Program: Four Sonatas 

Violin Sonata in F major K.376 
Violin Sonata in F major K.377 
Violin Sonata in G major K.379 
Violin Sonata in E-flat major K.380 

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person.

Email asiachart@hotmail.com for reservations. For more information call 038 069681 during office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Directions to Eelswamp: can be found at the bottom of this page:http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html. If you haven't been to Eelswamp before I strongly urge you to find the venue before the day of the concert.

Taxi service to Eelswamp: we recommend Grabtaxi

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Big Bach

Bach's two big works 
Goldberg Variations and Art of Fugue

and other works by Bach and sons

Two programs

Saturday 9th April and Sunday 10th April

Michael Tsalka 

piano and Harpsichord

Second Prize, Nikolai Rubenstein Comeptition, Paris 

"...exemplary interpretations, flexible and with subtle nuances" Musicalpointers

"Tsalka showed almost incredible virtuosity throughout...” (Berkshire Review, Boston and New York)

Saturday, 9th April, 7pm
note the later time to avoid clashing with the SSMS concert at Tiffany's at 2pm

piano and harpsichord

J.S. Bach
French Suite no. 5 in G major
Goldberg Variations.

Sunday, 10th April, 5pm

piano and harpsichord

Two Fantasies by CPE Bach and WF Bach
J.S. Bach Art of Fugue

Michael Tsalka is an Israeli pianist and early keyboard performer. He graduated from Tel Aviv University, Scuola Superiore del Trio di Trieste, Italy and Temple University, Philadelphia. Tsalka has won numerous prizes, awards and fellowships in Rome, Bayreuth, Bonn, Paris, Genoa, Calabria, Sardinia, Tel-Aviv, Chicago, Red Wing in Minnesota, Berlin, Mexico City, Kuopio and Philadelphia.

He performs throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Asia, Russia, and Latin America. Previous engagements include performances for the Boston Early Music Festival, the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, Bellas Artes Theater in Mexico City, the Hermitage Festival in St. Petersburg, Konserhuset in Stockholm, St. Denis Festival in Paris, the Filharmonika Orchestra in Manila, the Trinity series in New York, and interviews and performances for radio stations in Hong Kong, Chicago, Buenos Aires, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Munich, Stockholm, Amsterdam, and Jerusalem.

Michael has recorded 15 CDs on Naxos, Grand Piano, Ljud & Bild (Stockholm), Brilliant Classics (Amsterdam) Paladino (Vienna), and IMI (Israel), including a recording of the Goldberg Variations.

Reservations: 1,200 baht for one concert. 2,000 baht for two. Email asiachart@hotmail.com or call 038 069681 office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps. Directions can be found at the bottom of this page: http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html

Taxi service to Eelswamp: we recommend Grabtaxi

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Anupama at Indian by Nature March 28th

Another Sitar Genius

Anupama Bhagwat, sitar

accompanied by Sandip Ghosh, tabla

plays the magnificent Raag Malkauns 

and other ragas

Sunday, 27th March at 7pm

Winner of All India Radio Competition 1994

"Disciple of a sitar legend, destined to be a legend in her time"

"Tremendous control of the sitar ... a sheer delight to listen to." 

Attenborough Arts Centre

"Spontaneous, versatile, grounded" The Hindu

"...full of substance, fluent ease and confidence" www.gurdain.com

"...incredible talent". R. Girouard

Anupama Bhagwat is one of the most brilliant sitar players of her generation. She is a disciple of sitar legend, Bimalendu Mukherjee, father and guru of one of the greatest living sitar players, Budhaditya Mukherjee (who, in his youth, was likened to Jimmy Hendrix for his extraordinary virtuosity). She has performed in the US, both east and west coasts, Switzerland, Paris and at the most prestigious Indian music festival in London at the Southbank, The Darbar Festival. She has twice been invited to perform at the Dover Lane Music Conference, one of the most important music festivals in India. I heard Anupama, live, at the recent Dover Lane Music Conference (January 2016) and her performance left me speechless. This is a talent not to be missed.

The music: The program will include the great raga, Raag Malkauns, which is a major raga in Indian music with a great history of lore and legend. The name purportedly means, 'He who wears serpents as garlands', a reference to Shiva. Legend has it that the raga was created by Parvati, Shiva's wife, in order to placate him after dancing the 'Tandava' dance - the dance of creation. The raga has been described as "the expression of pathos through melody". It is said to have supernatural powers, which, if rendered correctly, can conjure spirits. It has also been described as "one of the moody close cousins of the blues".

Shiva performs the Tandava Dance

Anupama's recording of Raag Malkauns inspired me to invite her to Eelswamp. Her rendition is superb. It easily brings to mind the quote of musicologist, Vasudev Murty, 

"I rule over the emotions. I cause the deepest and gravest feelings to swirl slowly around you just as the Milky Way with millions of stars moves imperceptibly around a central point."
~ Malkauns -What the Ragas Told Me.

Finally, let me assure you that the Magnificent Malkauns will enrapture you whether you are versed with Indian music or not. According to musicologist Ramshreya Jha, Malkauns is 

"Easy for the beginner and challenging  for the most accomplished artist ... as pleasing to the ears of a listener who has just begun to appreciate it, as it is for a music connoisseur". I'll second that!

Join me on Sunday 27th March for a special opportunity to hear an exceptional talent perform the Magnificent Malkauns.

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person.

Email asiachart@hotmail.com for reservations. For more information call 038 069681 during office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Directions to Eelswamp: can be found at the bottom of this page:http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html. If you haven't been to Eelswamp before I strongly urge you to find the venue before the day of the concert.

Taxi service to Eelswamp: we recommend Grabtaxi

Anupama at Indian by Nature

Monday 28th March

Anupama will play a program of light classics at a special dinner concert at Pattaya's finest Indian Restaurant

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