LA JOLLA, California — The dynamic classical/jazz pianist, Conrad Tao, opened the August 17 SummerFest concert, California Dreamin’, with eight selections connected to Sergei Rachmaninoff, who spent his last years in Los Angeles after immigrating from his native Russia.
Tao began with improvisations on songs influenced by Rachmaninoff, such as Irving Berlin’s “All By Myself,” Harold Arlen’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life,” and “Day Dream,” and “Full Moon and Empty Arms,” whose melody was the main theme of the last movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto #2.
In between these pop icons, Tao played his own Improvisation on Variation 15 of Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” and the Variation 18 of the Rhapsody. Violinist Simone Porter joined Tao in Strayhorn’s “Day Dream” and Rachmaninoff’s song, “Daisies.” which the composer had arranged for violin and piano for the great virtuoso violinist, Jascha Heifetz, Vilna-born resident of Beverly Hills.
Tao concluded with Rachmaninoff’s “Etude-tableau” in C Minor. The youthful artist proved himself to be equally masterful in intricate jazz improvisations and in Rachmaninoff’s Romanticism.
The first half of the program concluded with the three movement Sonata for Two Violins by the Hungarian-Jewish composer, Miklos Rozsa. Famed for writing over 100 Hollywood film scores, including epics such as Quo Vadis, El Cid and Ben Hur, and winning three Oscars, he also wrote many classical pieces, such as a violin concerto for Jascha Heifetz, a cello concerto for his fellow Hungariian emigre, Janos Starker, and a viola concerto for the Israeli violinist/violist Pinchas Zuckerman.
Although Rozsa originally composed the Sonata for Two Violins at the age of 26, while living in Paris, he revised it over three decades later and dedicated the revised version to violinist Louis Kaufman, concertmaster of the MGM Orchestra, and his wife, pianist Annette Kaufman.
The Kaufmans often came to San Diego to visit their dear friend, Ignace Hilsberg and Hilsberg invited them to perform at the old 54th Street Jewish Community Center, under the auspices of the JCC Music Committee.
Rozsa’s three movement sonata, “Allegro risoluto,” “Lento assai” and “Vivo e giocoso,” was performed with Hungarian gusto by violinists Blake Pouliot and Simone Porter. The “Lento Assai’s” lyrical beauty and the whirlwind dance of the last movement brought to mind the music of Rozsa’s compatriots, Bela Bartok and Kodaly, who were influenced by the same folk music and speech patterns.
Following intermission, California Dreamin’ presented works by four living composers with ties to the Golden State. Simone Porter was the soloist with the accompaniment of pairs of violins, violas and celli and a keyboard in John Williams’ “Theme from Schindler’s List.” Porter played this emotional work with refined musicality.
Reena Esmail’s “Fantasia” from her String Quartet, Ragamala was performed by the Abeo Quartet, Njioma Grevious, Rebecca Benjamin, violins, Jakes Kang, viola, Macintyre Taback, cello. This string quartet was one of the two fellowship ensembles during this season’s SummerFest and it performed “Fantasia” with mezmerizing effect. In this work, Esmail combined elements from her Indian heritage and her classical training. it included a brief vocal segment, sung by the composer.
The final two works, “G Song” by Terry Riley and Selections from John’s Book of Alleged Dances, by John Adams, were both commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and cellist, Paul Wiancko of the Kronos Quartet was part of the quartets performing them. The violinists in both ensembles were Simone Porter and Blake Pouliot, alternating between first and second violins. Only the violists were different. Mathew Lipman performed the Riley G Song and Masumi Per Rostad was the violist in the Adams dances.
The “G Song” was a moto prepetuo movement full of propulsive momentum, featuring each instrument along the way. The Adams dances, “Dogjam,” “Alligator Escalator,” “Toot Nipple,” “Habanera,” and “Judah to Ocean,” were short, sardonic pieces, reflecting this minimalist’s contemporary style. Both Kronos commissions were played with spirit and verve.
This was another wonderful SummerFest concert. The Festival closed last Saturday, after four weeks of innovative programs with many world-class soloists and large, enthusiastic audiences.
* Eileen Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in the arts.
1 thought on “Works of Rachmaninoff, Rozsa Delight SummerFest Audience”
MONIQUE KUNEWALDER
Another glorious ending to SUMMERFEST 2024, with illuminating explanations & explorations of major composers who made their homes in America and succeeded in gifting audiences with unknown and beautifully exotic melodies, rhythmic harmonies and uniquely diverse sounds! Thank you, Eileen Wingard, for bringing these marvelous programs to LIFE!!
Another glorious ending to SUMMERFEST 2024, with illuminating explanations & explorations of major composers who made their homes in America and succeeded in gifting audiences with unknown and beautifully exotic melodies, rhythmic harmonies and uniquely diverse sounds! Thank you, Eileen Wingard, for bringing these marvelous programs to LIFE!!