Event Description
2021 marked the 50th anniversary of Stravinsky’s death and the 100th anniversary of Saint-Saëns’s death. The two represented the polar extremes on the musical spectrum, with Saint-Saëns clutching on to lush 19th century Romanticism just as Stravinsky led the modernist avant-garde. Their paths famously converged at the riotous 1913 premiere of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, with Saint-Saëns walking out in protest. Through the music of these and other giants of the early twentieth century’s ICP explores this turbulent time when the Old World Order itself (both in and out of music) fell under question and the language of music splintered in a myriad of directions.
Assaff Weisman, piano; Marina Piccinini, flute; Tibi Cziger, clarinet; Sivan Magen, harp; Daniel Bard, violin; Itamar Zorman, violin; Guy Ben-Ziony, viola; Michal Korman, cello
Saint-Saëns: Fantaisie for Harp and Violin, Op. 124
Stravinsky: A Soldier’s Tale
Ravel: Introduction and Allegro
Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 9 (Arr.)
Ravel: Le tombeau de Couperin (Arr.)
Israeli Chamber Project
Now in its second decade, the Israeli Chamber Project is a dynamic ensemble comprising strings, winds, harp, and piano, that brings together some of today's most distinguished musicians for chamber music concerts and educational and outreach programs both in Israel and abroad. It was named the winner of the 2011 Israeli Ministry of Culture Outstanding Ensemble Award and 2017 Partos Prize in recognition of its passionate musicianship, creative programming, and commitment to educational outreach.
Based both in Israel and in New York, the ensemble was created as a means for its members to give something back to the community where they began their musical education and to showcase Israeli culture, through its music and musicians to concert goers overseas. Among its members are prize-winners at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Russia, the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, Avery Fisher Career Grant, and the Gaspar Cassado Cello Competition.
The Israeli Chamber Project’s tours have garnered rave reviews and established the ensemble as a major artistic force on both sides of the Atlantic. These tours include appearances on some of the premier chamber music series, whether in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, New York or Beijing, as well as in remote towns where access to live chamber music is extremely rare. Guest artists on ICP tours have included the Guarneri String Quartet’s Michael Tree and Peter Wiley, the Cleveland Orchestra’s Principal Flutist, Joshua Smith as well as international soloists Antje Weithaas and Liza Ferschtman.
A strong advocate for music education, the ICP has partnered with several conservatories and educational institutions in order to offer lessons and masterclasses to students of all cultural and economic backgrounds, many of whom have little or no opportunity to work with internationally recognized musicians.
An important part of the Israeli Chamber Project’s mission is to support emerging Israeli composers by commissioning works specifically for the ensemble. Composers commissioned so far have included Matan Porat, Jonathan Keren, Gilad Cohen, Yohanan Chendler, Amit Gilutz, Zohar Sharon, as well as American composer Lowell Liebermann.
The Israeli Chamber Project has appeared at venues including London's Wigmore Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Morgan Library & Museum, Town Hall and Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, The Clark Memorial Library at UCLA, Ottawa’s Chamberfest, on tour in China and Hong Kong, and has been featured on NPR’s Performance Today and WQXR radio’s Young Artist Showcase.
Notable upcoming performances include a Kennedy Center debut as well as appearances at Stanford's Bing Concert Hall and a return to Philadelphia's Kimmel Center. The ensemble’s debut CD, Opus 1, was released in 2012 to great critical acclaim. Writing for American Record Guide, Gil French noted “These players have to be heard to be believed”, and “These musicians…make music both as soloists and as an ensemble with the technical perfection of a Heifetz and the musicality of the most mature players.”
To purchase your Drexel Family Weekend Discounted tickets, visit the website and use discount code DRAGONS20 |
