[Quincy Porter, Complete Viola Works; Eliesha Nelson, viola; John McLaughlin Williams, violin, piano, harpsichord; Douglas Rioth, harp; Northwest Sinfonia, John McLaughlin Williams, conductor; Dorian Recordings DSL 90911 (73:47) (2009)]
Eliesha Nelson has been featured by AfriClassical in connection with her CD, Quincy Porter, Complete Viola Works, as well as her master classes and performances of works for viola of composer H. Leslie Adams. Eliesha is a violist for the Cleveland Orchestra, which took part in the Edinburgh International Festival which began on August 13, 2010 and continues. The orchestra is giving 9 concerts in 6 cities on this tour of Europe. News of the tour is available at: http://www.clevelandorchestrablog.com/
We asked Eliesha Nelson if she would share some of her impressions of the Edinburgh International Festival with our readers, and she kindly provided these remarks:
“I think the high points were definitely soprano Laura Aiken. She has a clarity and beauty to her sound that fit the Berg and the Korngold well.
“As for the Orchestra on tour - I think the musicians always aim to present ourselves and the music at the highest level. We love to bring the best of Cleveland to other parts of the world, and we enjoy the cultural exchange of experiencing other places.”
Comment by email:
Comment by email:
Thank you for Eliesha Nelson's posting on soprano Laura Aiken during the Cleveland Orchestra's European tour. Eliesha was the first place winner of the 1992 National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) string competition. Her instrument at the time was violin and she represented the Central Region of NANM. She was a resident of the state of Alaska at that time and the youngest of four contetants. We continue to wish her well in her career. Musically yours, Barbara Wright-Pryor
