George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower
A detailed historical essay on the George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower page at AfriClassical.com was authored by our late principal advisor, Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com
Review: Koh, Wosner build a 'Bridge to Beethoven' at the Herbst in San Francisco
With
Herbst Theatre newly reopened after two years of renovations, San
Francisco's premier recital hall is once again open for business.
Wednesday evening brought violinist Jennifer Koh and pianist Shai
Wosner in a dynamic duo recital, performing the first of four programs
titled "Bridge to Beethoven." Presented by San Francisco Performances,
it's an intriguing concept, one that pairs Beethoven violin sonatas with
specially commissioned new works by contemporary composers.
Wednesday's program featured Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Sonata, paired
with the composer's earlier Sonata in D major, Op. 12, No. 1, and Vijay
Iver's "Bridgetower Fantasy." Koh, who made her San Francisco
Performances debut in 2003, is simply remarkable -- an artist who
combines a questing spirit with tonal refinement and a kind of fearless
virtuosity. Anyone who witnessed her extended violin solo in Philip
Glass' "Einstein on the Beach" at Cal Performances a few years back can
attest to her brilliance.
Yet
Wosner, making his first San Francisco Performances appearance on this
program, was every bit her match. Together, these two musicians
traversed the evening's works with superb style and insight.
The performance of the "Kreutzer" sonata was especially fine. Koh
sounded fervent and focused in the prayerful opening phrases, and her
delicately etched lines supplied alluring contrast to Wosner's
expressive playing in the second movement's theme and variations. The
finale's headlong rush to the double bar was smoothly calibrated, with
both artists delivering Beethoven's impassioned score with verve and
precision.
The D-major Sonata, which opened the program, also received a
terrific reading. Koh's impetuous, bright-toned phrasing was
attractively set against Wosner's flowing, articulate pianism; the
second movement's variations deftly captured Beethoven's high-spirited
mix of wit and turbulence.
In between the Beethoven sonatas, there was Iyer's "Bridgetower
Fantasy." Commissioned by MusicBridge, Inc., it is named for George
Bridgetower, the 18th-century Afro-European violinist for whom Beethoven
wrote the "Kreutzer" Sonata and who partnered with the composer to
perform its 1803 premiere.
Comment by email:
Comment by email:
Dear Bill Zick, Thank you so much for sharing this link. (And thank you also for
supporting "Sonata Mulattica" over the past six years!) I remain deeply
interested in George Bridgetower, so the news of the Kreutzer being
paired with a composition dedicated to the violinist
who served as Beethoven's original inspiration for his sonata is a
lovely constellation indeed.
For your information, here's a link to the Bridgetower film project that is currently in the works: http://sparkmedia.org/projects/sonata-mulattica/
With all good wishes,
Rita Dove
Rita Dove
Commonwealth Professor of English
University of Virginia
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~rfd4b/
Commonwealth Professor of English
University of Virginia
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~rfd4b/
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