Sunday, February 4, 2018

Casting new light on the US-based musical activities of Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959), musicologist Jon Meadow presented a lecture/recital exploring the composer's special relationship with the viola, historically a somewhat under-appreciated instrument. Violinist Laura Jean Goldberg and violist Danielle Farina played selections from Martinů's Three Madrigals for Violin and Viola, composed in New York City, and from the chamber music that inspired his work, Mozart's Duo in G for Violin and Viola.

Enjoy a replay of this event on our YouTube Channel here!

Composer Bohuslav Martinů in New York, courtesy of the Bohuslav Martinů Centre in Policka, Czech Republic

Jon Meadow is a Ph.D. candidate in historical musicology at New York University. His research is focused on Czechoslovak modernist theater music in the first half of the twentieth century. The title of his dissertation is "Humor, Chaos, and Copies in Bohuslav Martinů's The Plays of Mary." Meadow is on the board of the Dvorak American Heritage Association (DAHA), and he is currently an adjunct professor of Music History at Mannes Conservatory in New York City. He plays guitar, sings, and writes songs.

Laura Jean Goldberg, violinist, and organizer of chamber music events at DAHA, earned the BM and MM degrees at The Juilliard School where she studied with Lewis Kaplan, Robert Mann, and Felix Galimir. She was a founding member of the Cassatt String Quartet which was a top prize winner at Fischoff, Coleman, and Banff Competitions, as well as the ensemble that premiered post-graduate ensemble residencies at Juilliard and Tanglewood. Formed at The Castleman Quartet Program, the quartet held teaching residencies at The Yale School of Music, at Caramoor, and traveled worldwide teaching and performing. The Cassatt was deeply involved with new music and worked with composers including Diamond, Dutillieux, Wagonner, Mamlock, and Wolf. Goldberg is a faculty member at The Juilliard School pre-college, Teachers College Columbia University, and Belvoir Terrace, a performing arts camp for girls where young women are empowered through the arts. She is the founder of ArtsAhimsa Music for Peace and is a board member of DAHA and ACMP, the Associated Chamber Music Players Network. Goldberg is the violinist of the Belvoir Trio with composer-pianist Moshe Knoll and cellist Lori Singer.

Violist Danielle Farina was born in Woodbury, N.J., and is a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, teacher, and recording artist. She recently recorded Jon Bauman's Viola Concerto with the Moravian Philharmonic, Andy Teirstein's Viola Concerto with the Kiev Philharmonic, and premiered Peter Schickele's Viola Concerto with the Pasadena Symphony. She was formerly a member of the Lark Quartet, touring extensively in North America, Europe, and Scandinavia. Her recordings with the quintet include Aaron Kernis's string quartets, music of Amy Beach, and music of Giovanni Sollima. Currently a member of the Elements Quartet, she also performs with a number of New York City area ensembles, including the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Concertante, and Music From Copland House, with whom she recorded music of John Musto. Farina served as principal violist of the Brooklyn Philharmonic and is currently a member of the American Ballet Theater Orchestra and the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra. She holds a BM from the Curtis Institute of Music and studied with Karen Tuttle. She has been on the faculty at Juilliard's Pre-College since 2005.

You can enjoy a replay of this event on our here on our YouTube Channel!