D N A A R L E V E ST H r7 e T LE HE b m C RC ce O e D
PRE-CONCER T
st@rters
Harmonia Walt Mahovlich, accordion Alexander Fedoriouk, cimbalom Beata Begeniova, vocals Jozef Janis, violin Andrei Pidkivka, panflute and sopilka Branislav Brinarsky, bass
Harmonia presents the traditional folk music of Eastern Europe, ranging from the Danube to the Carpathians. Its repertoire reflects the cultures of this region — Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, Romanian, Croatian, and Gypsy. Performing on authentic folk instruments, and styled after East-European Gypsy bands from a century ago, their music is drawn from both the urban and rural traditions of Eastern Europe. The ensemble’s performances evoke the full range of human emotions, interspersing fiery, passionate virtuosity with soulful melancholy and nostalgic yearning. They have been called “obscenely talented” by the Folklore Society of Washington D.C. and “a musical gem” by National Public Radio. The musicians come from varied East-European backgrounds, and in Harmonia they have found a common musical language. Harmonia brings to the concert stage the vitality and excitement of ethnic weddings, celebrations, and smoky cafés that inspired composers such as Bartók, Brahms, and Liszt. The six-piece ensemble uses instruments as varied as accordion, upright bass, violin, panflute, and cimbalom (the East European 125-string hammered dulcimer). Their technical brilliance only adds to Harmonia’s breathtaking performances — dizzying cimbalom solos coupled with soaring violin lines, haunting flute and accordion solos, and soulful vocals. The ensemble is equally at home on the concert stage and in academic or workshop settings. To learn more, visit www.harmoniaband.com.
Jamey Haddad has curated and planned the world music performances for The Cleveland Orchestra’s Fridays@7 concerts since the series began in 2009. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he holds a unique position in the world of jazz and contemporary music, with his musical voice transcending styles and trends. Regarded as one of the foremost world music and jazz percussionists in the United States, Mr. Haddad is an associate professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Boston’s Berklee College of Music, and the New England Conservatory. To learn more, visit www.jameyhaddadmusic.com.
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Guest Artists
The Cleveland Orchestra