Last evening's event at Paul Hall was not a solo recital but a chamber ensemble performance by three talented musicians. Flutist Bart Feller, a graduate of Curtis Institute, is not only a Juilliard faculty member but also principal flute for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and the now defunct New York City Opera. Stacey Shames is the solo harpist of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and a member of the Aureole Trio. Rebecca Young is Associate Principal Viola of the New York Philharmonic.
The program began dramatically as harpist and violist stood on a darkened stage while the flutist began playing Claude Debussy's Syrinx while still offstage. Mr. Feller moved onstage as the lights went up and all three musicians went without pause to the first movement of the Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp. This is the second time I've heard this piece in a week. I've already posted about having heard Carol Wincenc perform it with Nancy Allen and Cynthia Phelps on Monday evening and discussed then the importance Debussy attached to reasserting the tradition of French classical music. Having heard the same work played by two groups of such excellent musicians helped deepen my understanding of Debussy's accomplishment.
The third piece in this short recital (only 35 minutes) was the world premiere of a work also for flute, viola and harp entitled Three New Hampshire Postcards by Christopher Weiss. In its own way it too was Impressionistic as it summoned up three compelling scenes of New England: Backyard Creek, December Sky, 2 A.M. and Like Soft Rain upon Leaves.
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