4 minute read
COVER
MUSIC
New opportunities for New West
by Mike Nelson
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Could it be that live-streamed artistic performances will become more (if not totally) the norm, even after the coronavirus pandemic is a distant and unpleasant memory?
“As confronting as the pandemic has been,” says Michael Christie, music director for the New West lots to think about and tools to use front digital media and other skills experience of our performances.”
The “broader experience” — including interaction between audience and performers during intermission, to enhance audience accesbegan in 2019.
“Even before COVID,” says Christie, “we had an enthusiastic response from our audiences who got to know our musicians and our work on a more personal, relaxed level through informative banter. And nothing has changed in our desire to connect with people, whether it’s via Zoom or other platforms.”
On Jan. 31, NWS presents via livestream its third concert of the 2020-21 season, “Holocaust Remembrance,” exploring Jewish themes through music of the late 19th centuries through today. Works will include pieces by Johannes Brahms (String Quartet No. 3 in B-flat Major), Erwin Schulhoff (Five Pieces for String Quartet), John Williams (three pieces from Schindler’s List) and more.
Guest performers include the
phone number is correct p address is correct p expiration date is correct p Symphony (NWS), “it’s given us spelling is correct acclaimed Jerusalem String Quartet, pianist Daniel Vnukowski, NWS concertmaster Alyssa Park (violin) and section principals Philip Triggs (viola) and Joshua Ranz (clarinet).
down the road. It’s forced us to conDEADLINE FOR AD CHANGES IS 12:00 NOON THE TUESDAY PRIOR TO THAT ISSUES RELEASE. we all knew we’d need in order to All advertising produced by the production department of Times Media Group, is the copyrighted property of Times Media Group. Any be up to speed with, and embrace use other than the placement of advertising in any of Times Media Group’s publications is prohibited without the express consent of Times Media Group, plus any applicable fees. going forward. And for organizap OK to run tions like ours that present their Date: ______________________________ This proof is to check for accuracy and is not intended to show quality of reproduction. p OK to run with correction work at a designated time and place, it makes us think about the broader Signature: __________________________ The concert features pre-recorded performances that, while absent the atmosphere of a live venue, offer another dimension that in-person concerts do not.
“We’ve had a lot of great feedback from our patrons on the camera work that show closeups of the musicians which you don’t get to see when you‘re in the performance hall for the audience,” says Christie, speaking by
phone from his Minneapolis home
where he and his wife, an emergency sibility — was something NWS challenges of the pandemic.12/7/20 2:48 PM
Indeed, this new method of pre-
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senting concerts offers a unique but not insurmountable set of challenges. Not only are the orchestra members socially distanced and masked (except for woodwind and horn players, and then only when they are playing), they are not always together in the same room when playing.
“For me,” says Christie, with a smile, “the great challenge is trying to gather music for different-sized ensembles to play while safely distancing. Planning for a regular orchestra concert with 60 members is a whole lot easier. But our musicians are enthusiastic about playing for our patrons, who seem to enjoy these different-sized efforts.”
The Holocaust Remembrance concert, he says, will celebrate “an incredible chapter of music history where you can see an array of cultural influences — classical, folk, contemporary — mixing together. There were literally hundreds of Jewish composers and artists flourishing in the early 20th century who were captured, exiled and struck down by the Nazi regime. So this concert is a way to honor that period, especially in Southern California where our music history is replete with contributions from these composers. It’s the story of the music we know as well as great discoveries of works from a very special time.”
Ahead of the concert, NWS will present “complementary content” including interviews with the Violins of Hope Los Angeles Chair Susanne Reyto and a local Holocaust survivor (Jan. 27, 7 p.m.), a pre-concert talk with musicologist David Ravetch (Jan. 28, 6 p.m.) and an interview with Jerusalem Quartet members (Jan. 30, 7 p.m.).
Holocaust Remembrance virtual events take place Jan. 27-31. For schedule, tickets and more information, call 805-497-5800 or visit newwestsymphony.org/2020-21-virtual-season/holocaust-remembrance/.
