The Nassau Music Society launched its 2011-2012 season last week with a concert by Dmitri Berlinsky(violin)and Elena Baksht(piano), setting the public up for a season of strings from soothing to exhilarating.
Indeed, with performers on piano, violin, cello and even classical guitar--covering classical to ragtime and jazz and music with a Spanish flair--there is something for everyone at an affordable cost, says Italia Watkins-Jan, vice president communications/public relations and administrator of The Nassau Music Society.
"We're trying to bring in quality musicians at an affordable cost because not everybody can afford to go away to see these artists,"she says."Our goal is to bring them here to the general public and to give audiences more exposure."
"Once you're exposed to a wider range of music, I think it gives you a better perception of culture in general and it makes you appreciate all types of music as well. Usually most of these artists have classical training, so we think it's important to show that classical music is the root of other types of music."
It's not all as classical as you may think, however--their next performances on November 4 and 5 actually focus on jazz and ragtime by Terry Waldo.
Soon thereafter in the new year, Marco Tamayo and Anabel Montesinos will present a performance on the rarely-heard classical guitar.
Then in February 2012, The Nassau Music Society will show another side of classical music when they present their special event, Bizet to Broadway, in association with the Bizet-Broadway Committee chaired by Cornelia Nihon, which will feature Canadian opera singers in a special night of opera performance.
It will raise funds for a scholarship program to help young Bahamian musicians train either at home or abroad--an important part of The Nassau Music Society's mission. In fact, points out The Society's President, Patrick Thomson, they entered into a 10 year agreement with The College of The Bahamas to fund two students a year pursuing music at the institution.
"We've had in the past students going abroad to study, but the cost of sending a student abroad is horrendous and we can't possibly find enough money to pay for their tuition, so they have to go out and find other funds and most of them find it very difficult to find that sort of money,"explains Thomson.
"So that's why we made the commitment to The College of The Bahamas--at least it gives them a start here and if they want to continue their music career we will try to help them, but it will be more up to them to find the funds."
In further support, their Member's Night--a special performance for members of The Nassau Music Society only, which they are bringing back after a 10-year hiatus--will feature students from The College of The Bahamas music department in Act II of Johann Strauss's operetta Die Fledermaus.
Of course, more traditional classical evenings will be offered to the public like the one that opened their season, including performances in 2012 by the pair Robert Blocker(piano)and Ole Akahoshi(cello), the pair Gilad Karni(viola)and Donald Berman(piano), as well as Sophie Pacini on the piano.
Whether traditional or not, all audiences can expect a great quality performance where they can not only hear such gorgeous music, but also see such internationally-renowned and skilled musicians play up-close. It was, after all, the original aim of The Nassau Music Society's founder, E. Clement Bethel, to expose the public to this music which has such a rich history and range.
"We follow in the footsteps of Clement for our aim is to bring classical music to The Bahamian public and our members,"says Thomson."We really hope that everyone who comes has an enjoyable evening and takes away a great memory of the occasion."
It's therefore unfortunate that so few members of the public take up the opportunity of the affordable$25 ticket prices($10 for students). Furthermore, point out Thomson and Watkins-Jan, they have a lack of professional concert hall venues in which to display such talent, which proves not only to be an embarrassment to the country but also an unfortunate setback in their search for international talent every year. It's something they hope they can see improve as they design their many concert seasons to come.
"What we would like to say is here in Nassau it's very difficult to get venues and we'd hope the government can invest in one,"says Watkins-Jan."In the long run to continue to bring in this caliber of music, we need somewhere they can actually play."
"We would like the public to bear with us and keep an open mind when they come. Our main concern is to have something that's acceptable to the artists so that they can actually show their talent to the Bahamian audience."
For more information and to see videos of the performers below, check out The Nassau Music Society's webpage at www.nassaumusicsociety.org. You may reserve tickets online anytime at http://www.nassaumusicsociety.org/reservations or 10 days before any concert at the box offices: A.D. Hanna&Co., Deveaux St., Tel: 322-8306; Logos Bookstore, Harbour Bay, Tel: 394-7040; Custom Computers, Cable Beach, Tel: 396-1100; Moir&Co., Lyford Cay, Tel: 362-4895.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE NASSAU MUSIC SOCIETY'S 2011-2012 SEASON
Terry Waldo--Ragtime, Jazz&Blues: The Roots of American Pop
Friday, November 4, 2011 College of the Bahamas Performing Arts Centre 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 5, 2011 St. Paul's Church Hall, Lyford Cay 7:30 p.m.
Terry Waldo presents one of his very popular programs featuring the music of America's greatest composers including The King of Classic Ragtime, Scott Joplin; Tin Pan Alley's most famous song writer, Irving Berlin; New Orleans Jazz pioneer, Jelly Roll Morton; and the legendary Ragtime and Broadway genius, Terry's mentor, Eubie Blake. Terry will also include famous tunes from"The Great American Songbook"and some of his own original numbers.
Member's Night--Act II of Johann Strauss's operetta Die Fledermaus
Saturday, January 14, 2012 Government House(TBC)7:30 p.m.
Light, funny and entertaining performance in English. Cast entirely of students from the music department at COB except for the two more"advanced"roles of Rosalinda and Eisenstein which will be played by Candace Bostwick and Wil Adderley respectively.
Marco Tamayo&Anabel Montesinos--Classical Guitars
Friday, January 27, 2012 Government House 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 28, 2012 St. Paul's Church Hall, Lyford Cay 7:30 p.m.
Marco Tamayo was born in Havana, where he started to play guitar at the age of three. Winner of major international guitar competitions like the Michele Pittaluga, Città de Alessandria, in 1999, Marco Tamayo has performed concerts together with the Chamber Orchestra of St. Petersburg, the Turin Philharmonic, the Chamber Orchestra of Aix en Provence, the Tampere Philharmonic in Finland and the Havana Philharmonic, among many others.
Anabel Montesinos, one of the leading figures of the classical guitar worldwide, is"a promising star of the classical guitar"according to Maestro Antón GarcÃa Abril when he heard her play. Montesinos is the winner of several major international guitar competitions like the Francisco Tárrega competition in Spain and the Michele Pittaluga competition in Alessandria, Italy. Her musical expression and taste has enthralled audiences wherever she has performed.
Gilad Karni(viola)and Donald Berman(piano)
Saturday, February 18, 2012 College of the Bahamas Performing Arts Centre 8 p.m.
Sunday February 17, 2012 St. Paul's Church Hall, Lyford Cay 5:30 p.m.
Gilad Karni has been praised throughout the world for his tone and interpretation. His technique and musicality have earned him countless honors, from first prizes at competitions to leadership roles in some of the world's finest orchestras. Equally at home in orchestral and solo or chamber music settings, Karni can be heard on concert stages around the globe in a range of repertoire, as well as on recordings.
American pianist Donald Berman is recognized as one of the chief exponents of new works by living composers, overlooked music by 20th century masters, and recitals that link classical and modern repertoires. His reputation as definitive interpreter of the American new music canon is unsurpassed. He has established an extensive discography in the works of major American composers, including Ives, Ruggles, Kernis, Levering, Wheeler, Boykan, and many others.
Bizet-Broadway--Special Black-Tie Fundraiser--Dinner&Concert
Saturday, March 3, 2012 Old Fort Club
This special event"Bizet to Broadway", in association with the Bizet-Broadway Committee chaired by Cornelia Nihon, features Canadian opera singers and its goal is to raise funds to allow young Bahamian singers to train either at home or abroad.
An enormous success last season, the evening was sold out before tickets were even printed.
Robert Blocker(piano)and Ole Akahoshi(cello)
Friday, March 23, 2012 College of the Bahamas Performing Arts Centre 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 24, 2012 St. Paul's Church Hall, Lyford Cay 7:30 p.m.
Robert Blocker began his study of piano at the age of five, presenting his first public recital two years later. Today, he performs throughout the world with concerts in the United States, Europe, Mexico, China, Korea, Thailand, and several Pacific Rim countries.
Recently hailed by theLos Angeles Times, German cellist Ole Akahoshi began studying cello at the age of four in Berlin. Akahoshi is principal cellist of the Sejong Soloists in New York, as well as member of Seiji Ozawa's Saito Kinen Orchestra since 1998 and the Opera Nomori Tokyo.
Sophie Pacini(piano)
April 13-14, 2012 One night only open to the public
A special concert sponsored by Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild Ltd. to present the winner of its annual music competition held in Switzerland.
Sophie Pacini is 19 years old and was born in Munich. At the young age of eight she had her debut with Haydn's Piano Concerto in D major and started to study piano at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria at the age of 10. In February 2011 she performed a recital at the International festival"Sommets musicaux de Gstaad"and won the desired festival award"Marguerite DAtschler". Thanks to the generosity of the Banque Prive Edmond de Rothschild Ltd., we are able to share the exceptional talent of this young piano virtuoso with the Bahamian public.
The Nassau Music Society would like to thank its sponsors, ColinaImperial Insurance Ltd., Societe General Private Banking, PICTET Bank&Trust Ltd., RoyalStar Assurance Ltd., and Banque Privee Edmond De Rothschild Ltd., plus many private sponsors, for making it possible to hold this series of concerts of such great quality this year.
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