Georgian Chamber Players

Concerts @ First presents

Georgian Chamber Players

Georgian Chamber Players March 7th, 2022 7:30 p.m.

Gypsy Trio

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) David Coucheron, Violin Rainer Eudeikis, Cello Elizabeth Pridgen, Piano

Moldau Symphonic Poem

Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) Elizabeth Pridgen, Piano; Julie Coucheron, Piano

INTERMISSION

Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34 Julie Coucheron, Piano David Coucheron, Violin Jessica Wu, Violin Zhenwei Shi, Viola Rainer Eudeikis, Cello

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Program Notes Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical era. His prolific output of music includes 108 symphonies, 52 keyboard sonatas, 68 string quartets, and many more. His contributions to the development of the symphonic form deem him the “Father of the Symphony.” A large portion of his career was spent as the court musician of the Esterhazy family at their Eszterhaza Castle. He was also a teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) and Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). The Piano Trio No. 39 in G major, Hob. XV/25, also known as the “Gypsy Trio,” was written in 1795 during his second trip to London.

It is written in three movements. The first movement, Andante, plays with variations of themes in major and minor, which is characteristic of Haydn’s music. The second movement, Poco adagio, cantabile, is gentle and quaint. The middle section contains a beautiful melody sung by the cello, followed by the violin, as the piano accompanies with flowing triplets. The third movement, Rondo a l’Ongarese: Presto, is fast-paced, resembling the Verbunkos genre of Hungarian dances. Characteristic of the style, there are intermittent slow sections as a brief step back from the fast energy, which then catapults back to the upbeat tempo. This exciting movement is what earned the “Gypsy Trio” nickname.

Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) was a Czech composer of the Romantic era. Many of his compositions contain an element of nationalism, representing a pride for his country. During this time of cultural and political revival, his music became quite popular, and he was regarded as the “Father of Czech music.” His most notable works are “The Bartered Bride” opera, and Ma vlast (“My Fatherland”), a cycle of six symphonic poems. Vltava, or The Moldau, is the second symphonic poem of Ma vlast, depicting the longest river of the Czech Republic in several different settings.

It begins with the two small springs that merge together to create the course of the main river. As the main theme of the melody sings over the continuous flow of sixteenth note passages, the symphonic poem takes the listener through a journey down the river. This includes a celebratory dance for the wedding of a farmer, the serene and magical songs of mermaids in the moonlight, and a myriad of castles, palaces, and ruins along the shores. This culminates in a climax as the river reaches the St. John’s Rapids, which is depicted by flourishing waves of sixteenth notes and fortissimo echoes of the main melody.

Program Notes Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was a German composer and pianist of the Romantic era. One of the most famous composers of the time, he is mostly known for his blend of traditional Classical styles with the innovative compositional styles of the Romantic era. His compositions include four symphonies, four concerti, a multitude of works for solo piano, vocal works and lieder, works for chamber ensembles, and more. Many of these pieces have become staples of the modern concert repertoire.

The Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34, often regarded as the “crown of his chamber music,” is written for piano, two violins, viola, and cello. It is a massive and dramatic work that pushes the limits of chamber music to new depths. The first movement, Allegro non troppo, is in F minor. The music begins with a theme by all the instruments in unison as a grand introduction, which leads to a stormy expansion of the theme. The chaos and drama of the piece is occasionally interrupted by moments of calm, but is otherwise an intense ride. This culminates in a pounding conclusion of the first movement.

The second movement, Andante, un poco adagio, is in A-flat major. The subdued and somber repose of this movement is a welcomed break from the turbulence of the previous movement and the fast-paced energy of the upcoming Scherzo. There are brief sections of tension as the passionate melodies rise and fall, but otherwise the energy is calm and relaxing.

The third movement, Scherzo: Allegro, is in C minor with a trio in C major. It begins with a quiet and mysterious buildup to a grand theme that is surrounded by otherwise frenetic and ominous gestures that keep the energy flowing in a sometimes unpredictable back and forth of dynamics and rhythm. The movement ends abruptly, leading to the final movement.

The fourth movement, Finale: Poco sostenuto — Allegro non troppo — Presto, non troppo, returns to F minor. The dramatic pause after the Scherzo leads to a somber and mysterious introduction of the finale. This builds up in anguish and expression that gives way to the faster portion of the movement. The Allegro section is notable for outbursts of energy and motion with occasional setbacks of calmer moments. The arrival of the Presto is introduced by an exciting and jagged rhythm that begins softly and builds to a pulsating race to the finish, halted by one final melancholic digression that quickly gives way to the arrival of the final energetic statement of the piece.

About the Artists David Coucheron, Violin- Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, David Coucheron is originally from Oslo, Norway, where he began playing violin at age three. He earned his Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music, his Master of Music from the Juilliard School, and his Master of Musical Performance from London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying with teachers including Igor Ozim, Aaron Rosand, Lewis Kaplan and David Takeno. Mr. Coucheron has worked with conductors including Robert Spano, Alan Gilbert, Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Simon Rattle, Mstislav Rostropovich, David Zinman, Sir Roger Norrington, Simone Young and Charles Dutoit, and he has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (Maxim Vengerov conducting), Sendai Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.

In recent seasons with the ASO, he has performed the Violin Concerto by Samuel Barber, The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams (also recorded for a Grammy-winning ASO Media CD) and the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1. Mr. Coucheron has played solo recitals at the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall (London), the Kennedy Center and the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, as well as in Beograd, Serbia, and Shanghai, China. His chamber music performances have included appearances at Suntory Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, and Alice Tully Hall. He serves as the artistic director of the Kon-Tiki Classical Music Fest in Oslo. Among Mr. Coucheron’s awards and recognitions are first prize at the Concorso Internazionale di Musica “Citta di Pinerolo” competition in 2009 (Turin, Italy), first prize at the Princess Astrid Competition in 2002 (Trondheim, Norway), and third prize at the Manchester International Violin Competition in 2005 (Manchester, U.K.). His instrument is a 1725 Stradivarius.

At age 29, pianist Julie Coucheron has established an international career, winning prizes in Italy, Germany, and the United States. She has worked with musicians such as Lazar Berman, Claude Frank, Emanuel Ax, Vladimir Feltsman, John O’Connor and Christopher O’Riley, and has toured Europe, America, South America and Asia, playing in great halls like Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, Wigmore Hall in London, the Kennedy Center in Washington and New York’s Carnegie Hall. Born in Oslo, Norway, Ms. Coucheron started playing the piano at age four. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees with honors from the Royal Academy of Music in London, studying with Christopher Elton and Michael Dussek while also gaining her LRAM teaching diploma at the same institution.

About the Artists Ms. Coucheron regularly performs at festivals such as the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, Bergen International Music Festival and La Jolla SummerFest. She is artistic director of the Fjord Cadenza festival in Skodie, Norway, and the Kon-Tiki Classic Music Fest in Oslo.

She enjoys a close collaboration with her brother, David Coucheron, who is Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In 2002 the pair released their first recording, Debut, on the Naxos label, containing lyrical and virtuoso music from the classical repertoire. Their second recording, David and Julie, appeared in 2008 on the Mudi/Naxos label, containing sonatas by Grieg and Brahms. In 2009 they shared first prize at the Pinerolo International Chamber Music Competition in Italy. With cellist Christopher Rex they perform trios regularly in various concert halls around the world. Ms. Coucheron most recently performed the Franck Piano Quintet with them last April. In August 2014, she was appointed Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University.

Rainer Eudeikis, cello- was appointed Principal Cellist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 2019. He was previously the Principal Cellist of the Utah Symphony for five seasons, and has performed in the same role at the Mainly Mozart Festival, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, and the Central City Opera.

Recent performance highlights include Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor and Strauss' Don Quixote with the Utah Symphony, and C.P.E. Bach's Cello Concerto in A Major for NOVA in Salt Lake City. He has participated in numerous international festivals, including the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival (Germany), BrittenPears Programme at Aldeburgh (UK), and the Academie Musicale Internationale de Vaison-la-Romaine (France). Rainer was a two-year fellowship recipient at the Aspen Music Festival, and was a member of the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, where he was Principal Cellist in 2011.

Born in Texas, Rainer began cello studies at the age of six. Following studies in Colorado with Jurgen de Lemos, he attended the University of Michigan as a student of Richard Aaron, completing his B.M. in 3 years with highest honors. He received his M.M. from Indiana University, where he studied with Eric Kim. In 2014, Rainer completed his Artist Diploma at the Curtis Institute of Music, studying with Carter Brey and Peter Wiley.

About the Artists Pianist Elizabeth Pridgen has distinguished herself as a soloist and chamber musician. Named Artistic Director of the Atlanta Chamber Players in 2014, she recently celebrated the group’s 40th anniversary and has performed both new and standard chamber works to critical acclaim.

An advocate of new music, Ms. Pridgen has participated in the commissioning of works by noted composers such as Adam Schoenberg and Michael Gandolfi and supports underserved composers through the Rapido Composition Competition.

Highlights of the 2016-2017 season include her debut with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a multi-city tour with violinist Robert McDuffie, a recital appearance with violinist Anne Akiko Meyers at New York’s 92nd St Y, and the release of three albums including Chausson’s Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet with Andres Cardenes and the Vega String Quartet.

Ms. Pridgen is currently a Distinguished Artist and Piano Chair of the McDuffie Center for Strings and holds the G. Leslie Fabian Piano Chair at the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University. She performs regularly as a member of the Georgian Chamber Players and the Cortona Trio. Ms. Pridgen completed her studies at the Juilliard School and Peabody Conservatory where her teachers included Joseph Kalichstein and Ann Schein. State University’s School of Music, and is on the chamber music faculty of the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University in Macon.

Zhenwei Shi, viola- from Changsha, China, received first prize in the 2010 International String Players Competition in Hong Kong and third prize in the 2014 Johansen International Young String Players Competition in the USA. He was also awarded the Special Jury Prize from the 2016 XII Lionel Tertis Viola International Competition, the Regent’s Award from Duchess of Gloucester of British Royalty and Royal Academy of Music, and a scholar from Drake Calleja Trust and ABRSM in UK from 2016.

Mr. Shi started his viola with Professor Li Sheng at the Middle school of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He attended the Royal Academy of Music with full scholarship for his undergraduate studies with Professor Paul Silverthorne, Roger Chase and Juan-Miguel Hernandez. After he graduated with a first-class honor degree, he received full scholarship offers from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Royal Academy of Music, and The Julliard School for his master degree study.

About the Artists Mr. Shi has performed as a solo violist and chamber musician at prestigious venues such as Buckingham Palace, Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, and Shanghai Concert Hall. Mr. Shi has been invited to be a guest player in the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2018. Mr. Shi was appointed by Maestro Robert Spano as Principal Viola at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 2019.

Jessica Shuang Wu, violin- An established concert artist and chamber music performer, Ms. Wu collaborates frequently with many of the world's leading classical musicians. Past concert engagements have included appearances with clarinetist Richard Stolzman and pianist David Deveau in Bela Bartok’s “Contrasts”, as well as performances with guitarist Eliot Fisk and violinist Robert McDuffie. As a founding member of the Vega Quartet, Ms. Wu has performed extensively throughout Asia, Europe and North America. In 2018, the Vega Quartet made their debut in one of Europe’s most prestigious venues – Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

In addition, Ms. Wu’s concert appearances with the Vega Quartet include their critically acclaimed (The New York Times) Lincoln Center Debut and “a Triumphant L.A. Debut” (Los Angeles Times); all three concert halls at Carnegie Hall, Schneider Series; Harvard Club in New York; Vienna’s Musikverein, Museum d’Orsay in Paris; Aspen Winter Concert Series; Chamber Society Series of Monterey Bay and La Jolla Concert Series among others.

In 1999, The Vega String Quartet was awarded four of total six prizes at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition in France, including the International Music Critics’ Prize. The Vega String Quartet’s collaboration with Naxos Record Inc. on a CD featuring works by John Carpenter as part of the Twentieth Century American Music Collection is the only existing recording of Carpenter’s String Quartet and Piano Quintet.

Ms. Wu appears regularly in numerous chamber music concerts with today’s leading artists such as, Mark O’Connor, Zuill Bailey, Andres Cardenes, David Coucheron, Cho-Liang Lin, Sara Sant’Ambrogio, Christopher Rex, Charles Wadsworth, and William Ransom.

Aside from being a dedicated chamber music player, Ms. Wu’s achievements also include Top Prize from the National Society of Arts and Letters Violin Competition in 1996; Top Prize of the Fourth National Violin Competition of China; solo performances with the Shanghai Philharmonic and the Shanghai Soloist’s Orchestra.

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Georgian Chamber Players Board of Sponsors 2021-2022 Season Scott Calhoun President Matt Herndon Treasurer Linda Bath Susan Branch Martha S. Brewer Rosemary Brown Steven Darst Sally Gable Sally Hawkins Tim Hazelrig Donna Lanehart Katie MacKenzie Kay Marshall Helga Siegel Alex Simmons Elliott Tapp Ronald Turbayne Paul Walter Sally Westmoreland Adair White Dick White The Georgian Chamber Players extend sincere appreciation to First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta for graciously hosting this performance. Thank you so much for supporting great art and great music. We hope you will continue to show your support of great chamber music with a gift this season. Without you, it would not be possible.

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Concerts @ First 2021-2022 Donors Maestro

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