The Washington Post’s Anne Midgette writes on the world premiere of Appomattox: “A superb night at the opera”

Under two different titles, but the same content: on line it is “A superb night at the opera”. At the paper copy of today’s Washington Post in the ‘Style’ section, it is “A second chance helps a historical drama soar”

Please read it on line

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/appomattox-a-superb-night-at-the-opera/2015/11/15/29e46610-8b63-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html

Read More

“Appomattox” -world premiere. Work in progress -Washington DC.

Intensive rehearsals take place at the Washington National Opera.

The opera is being rehearsed for the premiere on November 14. The libretto was written by film director and screenwriter Christopher Hampton -1988 Academy Award for “Dangerous Liaisons”, who worked in numerous films, from ‘The honorary Consul’ (1984) to “The quiet American” (2002) to Cronenberg’s “Dangerous Method” (2011), just to name a few.

Composer Philip Glass -Golden Globe Award, composer of symphonies, concertos, the music for the famous film Koyaanisqatsi (1982), the opera trilogy “Einstein in the Beach”, “Satyagraha”, and “Akhnaten”, among an impressive amount of pieces widely performed- was present at the first reading of the whole opera.

The opera will mark the beginning of the 2015-2016 season at the Washington National Opera -Francesca Zambello, Artistic Director.

Read More

TOKIO: second performance of Schoenberg’s Variations for piano solo by Dante Santiago Anzolini. Hiroaki Ooi, pianist

A great concert taking place in Tokio, Sunday, October 25. The first version for solo piano of the Schoenberg Variations, performed for the second time in history, among great pieces of the Second Viennese School. Here the information:

http://www.albanberg.jp/index3_20151025.html
Alban Berg Gesellschaft Japan
30th anniversary concert and symposium
Sunday, 25th October 2015 5:00 P.M.
Shiodome Hall, Tokyo

Hiroaki Ooi, piano
The Second Viennese School a hundred years on: in solo piano transcriptions

Anton Webern/Yoichi Sugiyama (1969- ) : “Super-Passacaglia” (Intermezzo IX) for piano, dedicated to Hiroaki Ooi
Alban Berg/Yvar Mikhashoff (1941-1993): Tavern Garden Waltz, from the opera “Wozzeck”, Act II, Scene 4 (Japanese premiere)
Alban Berg/Ronald Stevenson (1928-2015): Cradle Song, from the opera “Wozzeck”, Act I, Scene 3 (Japanese premiere)
Arnold Schönberg/Dante Anzolini (1959- ): Variations for Orchestra Op.31
Arnold Schönberg/Motoharu Kawashima (1972- ): The Dance around the Golden Calf, from the opera “Moses and Aaron”, Act II, Scene 3
Alban Berg/Marvin Wolfthal (1947- ): “Lulu Fantasy”, dedicated to Elliott Carter (Japanese premiere)

********
Toshi Ichiyanagi, piano

Pierre Boulez: Piano sonata No.3

********
Toshi Ichiyanagi & Hiroaki Ooi, piano 4 hands

Alban Berg/Hans Erich Apostel (1901-1972): Variations from the opera “Lulu”, Act III, Scene 1

Read More