We extend our heartfelt hopes that this newsletter finds you safe, healthy, and in the company of those you love. We want to convey our deepest sympathies to any of you who have been impacted by the virus, either directly or indirectly. We find ourselves in an unprecedented situation, one that reaches far beyond the coronavirus pandemic, harming those most who have the least, and likely impacting the arts world for many years to come.
It seems like a lifetime ago when we had to quickly create a new program for the February North Carolina HIP festival while Allison was in quarantine following a visit to her son in Hubei to celebrate the Chinese New Year. We had high hopes that we would be able to record our new set of string trios in April, particularly after being able to present a Moravian program of string trios in Old Salem, NC on March 8th. But, alas, that was the last time we were able to meet. Concerts moved from the Spring to the Fall are now being moved to some time in 2021, or planned as online events―pre-recorded, wearing masks, and at a distance. We now teach via Zoom and Skype, adjusting to new technology, sound delays, and listening to our students through a filter of tinny microphones and speakers.
We are grateful for any way we can continue to make music and marvel at the innovative ways the musical world is rising to meet the new challenges. But we yearn to be able to sit right next to each other again, and laugh and play and reach out in real time to share the music we love with an audience we can see and hear.
In this Issue
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Recording Plans following successful Kickstarter Campaign rescheduled for November
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2020 performances and teaching engagements
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Tracks Music Library, Chapel Hill
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Taking on Technology
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Video Offerings
After our successful Kickstarter campaign in December, and with a number of concerts under our belt and planned for the Spring , we were eager to record again in April with our brilliant engineer, Richard Price, at the wonderful Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, New York.
Sadly, by April, travelling to New York was out of the question. But the Music Hall staff are being wonderfully flexible and we are hoping that our new plans to record in November will be feasible. We also hope that while live concerts are currently out of the question, it will be possible to safely gather in order to work on the next planned set of trios.
Discovering MORE Classical String Trios
String Trios at The Delphi Opera House in Delphi, IN
Moravian program for the "Music at Home" Series
in Old Salem, NC
Visiting the Antes cello at the Moravian Archive in Bethlehem, PA before a concert featuring the D minor string trio by John Antes
We are always so pleased when we can combine teaching sessions with our concerts. In October on our way to performing string trios for the Bach Society of Charleston, we were able to stop off at Furman University and work with the wonderful string players getting ready for a performance of Handel's Messiah. We were so impressed with their enthusiasm and quickness, and in giving us 2 hours outside their regularly scheduled rehearsal time on a Friday afternoon!
In February, we joined forces with our wonderful long time friend and colleague fortepianist Andrew Willis for performances of trios by Wagenseil, Haydn, and Beethoven at Longwood University and UNC Greensboro. We were especially delighted to work with the talented UNCG students in Andrew's performance practice course. They were fearless!
We are so grateful to Elizabeth Phelps and Jackie Nappi for making our emergency NC HIP program possible. And to Suzanne Rousso and Mallarmé Chamber Players for creating such a wonderful festival.
Rehearsing Vivaldi with Elizabeth Phelps in The Nelson Music Room at Duke University
The Vivaldi Project is proud to be a part of Tracks Music Library, a collaboration between Chapel Hill Public Library and Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture. And we had lots of fun with our live appearance on WCHL, Stephanie in person, and Allison and Liz on the phone.
We are honored to be among this great group of musicians as the only Classical ensemble.
Host Aaron Keck with Stephanie (this was the closest we stood, just for a quick picture.
Vivaldi Project Newsletter
Summer, 2020 Issue
Reaching out through Technology
While we can't gather to rehearse and perform or teach, we've been pursuing the alternatives available to us. In June, Liz gave a series of 4 online sessions for Summertrios, introducing historical performance practice techniques to a diverse group of string, wind, and keyboard players. Demand was so high, we're looking at creating an ongoing series through the Fall.
Stephanie has been using the unexpected time to work on a video project exploring performance practices in the solo cello suites of J.S. Bach. Inspired by her work with Baroque dancer Paige Whitley-Baugess, her goal is to incorporate dance in a real and practical way for cellists. This is a pilot video (created at home) featuring the wonderfully expressive Sarabande.
The second video is a larger cut (beautifully edited by Paige), including both baroque and modern dance, from a rehearsal for a concert planned for March 22nd (now scheduled for the Fall of 2021).
Liz performing the Telemann Fantasia no. 1 in Bb major.
Video by William George
Thank you to The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
