Program Notes

Performance Notes: AURAL EXPLORATIONS: FARRIN, FURE, AND MESSIAEN

Experience International Contemporary Ensemble, live streamed in your home! Thursday, May 28, 7PM on Youtube FREE REGISTRATION Dear Friends, When we embarked on our work with International Contemporary Ensemble (I.C.E.) we knew it would be wholly unique and unforgettable for Ovations audiences. At that time we imagined a modified version of their ambitious chamber opera, … Read more

New York Philharmonic String Quartet Program Notes by Linda Russell

many concert tours to display his prodigious talent. During the next ten years Mozart developed as a composer by imitating and expanding the various styles that he encountered during his travels Mozart’s string quartets span his life—from the earliest at age 15 to the more sophisticated compositions a year before he died. They also trace … Read more

Avi Avital & Bridget Kibbey Notes by Aimée Petrin

Dear Friends, After three attempts and at least as many years, it is a thrill to finally bring to Portland Grammy nominated mandolinist Avi Avital. We are doubly fortunate to have with us his equally stellar collaborator Bridget Kibbey, credited as the “Yo-Yo Ma of the harp.” We are grateful you’ve chosen to spend your evening with … Read more

Avi Avital and Bridget Kibbey Program Notes by Linda Russell

court organist and chamber musician to the Duke of Weimar, came just five years later. During his tenure (1717-23) as Music Director at the court of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen, Bach composed the majority of his instrumental chamber music. During this time Bach developed his instrumental style to supreme mastery, writing works for violin, cello, … Read more

Gabriela Montero: ‘Westward’ Program Notes by Linda Russell

compositions by age six, a rudimentary opera at nine, and his first symphony at ten; he became a student at the St. Petersburg Conservatory at thirteen. During his study at the conservatory, Prokofiev gained respect for the music of Haydn and Mozart, for the elegant dance forms of the eighteenth century, and for the transparent sonority … Read more

Beyond the Music with Deputy Director Linda Nelson

Let’s talk about the VISION in the music. “Voices Appeared,” The Orlando Consort January 24 at 7:30 pm, Hannaford Hall Joan of Arc was one of my heroes growing up. Was she one of yours? (Feel free to post your responses below.)   Whether the extremely young, visionary, cross-dressing French freedom fighter (and later canonized … Read more

Inon Barnatan Program Notes

Portland Ovations presents Inon Barnatan – Classical Pianist Performing in Portland at Hannaford Hall on Saturday, October 13 at 2 pm   Program notes by Linda Russell   Le Tombeau de Couperin by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) French composer Maurice Ravel began composing at age twelve; he studied piano at the Paris Conservatory. Major influences on Ravel’s … Read more