Ferris Burtis Music Foundation Concert

On Sunday afternoon, May 24th, the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation presented a benefit concert at the Sandisfield Arts Center in Sandisfield, MA.

Julian Müller, 'cellist, Justina Golden, mezzo-soprano,
Balint Zsoldos, pianist and myself were the performers. It was a brilliant afternoon of great music.

Julian and Balint played works by Dvorak and Brahms. Julian played a series of pieces for solo 'cello by John Harbison.

 Justina sang the Rückert Lieder of Mahler and with Julian at the 'cello and me at the piano, Zwei Gesänge of Brahms.

Julian has been the recipient of financial aid from the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation throughout his work on a bachelor's degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He graduated from this institution this spring and will attend Mannes School of Music in New York City this fall to work on his Master's degree.

Justina is a vocal student of Herbert Burtis and has her own vocal studio in Florence, Ma. She was recently soloist in Mendelssohn's Elijah at Smith College as well at a performance of German Lieder at Amherst College.

The Ferris Burtis Music Foundation has as its aim the support of talented young classical musicians in their education and careers. It welcomes tax-free gifts to help in its work in this area. If you wish to make a gift to the Foundation, you may send your check, made out to Ferris Burtis Foundation, Berkshire Taconic Foundation, 800 North Main, Sheffield, MA 01257.
http://ferrisburtisfoundation.blogspot.com 

Thank you Julian!

 It's so nice to have smart 'cellist friends. This answers the questions I posed in yesterday's blog. Thank you Julian Muller! You are the best! Here is his email to me:

Julian Muller

Dear Herb,

I read your blog post and a few things come to mind. I think that the lack of vibrato could be part of the intonation problems. In regards to the pitch sounding flat I not not sure whether they used Baroque tuning. Modern tuning is A at 440-442 and there is an average consensus in Baroque ensembles who try and adhere to certain performance practice of the baroque time period that the A is around 415. I am not sure whether they did this in the concert you went to or not. In regards to the squeaks etc. That probably just comes from slightly improper technique. They were most likely using baroque instruments, which use gut strings and these are very difficult to play on and to project a big sound. In our modern era we have emphasized a bigger sound with our modern instruments and steel strings and I think this mentality may subconsciously enter into baroque playing at times. These instruments are very difficult to play and the touch of the left hand on the strings has to be very light as well, so these could be issues for intonation and pure sound. I hope this answers some of your questions, its kind of difficult for me to assess the extent of your questions without hearing the concert itself but I hope this clears some things up!

All the best,

Julian

Two in a row!

Last night we witnessed an 83 year old woman present a fabulous retelling of her life in dance and tonight we heard an amazing 21 year old 'cellist bare his musical soul in an extraordinary recital. That's covering nearly a century of talent. Carmen de Lavallade is the dancer. Julian Müller is the 'cellist.


He is currently a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studies with Sharon Robinson. He has been the recipient of several grants from the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation.
http://ferrisburtisfoundation.blogspot.com 

Tonight, with the excellent Hyanghyun Lee at the piano, he gave us a wonderful concert in Ghent, NY. The program opened with Fantasiestücke, Op. 73, by Robert Schumann. The two artists performed these delightful pieces with ardor. I have performed some of these pieces with a 'cellist I worked with for many years as well as with several clarinetists. They are winners!

This was followed by the Andante  from Sinfonia Concertante, Op. 125, by Sergei Prokofiev, and a new work by Julian Müller, Temperaments. This engaging work has Julian singing as well as playing his 'cello. This is a young man with a lot to say about music and life. And with a lot of talent. It was most interesting.

The second half of the program included the Sonata for Piano and 'Cello No. 5 by Beethoven and ended with a heartbreaking rendition of the Andante Cantabile  of Tchaikovski, dedicated to his grandmother, who was an opera singer. It's easy to see where some of these musical genes came from.

Julian plays with a fiery technique and a passionate approach to whatever he does. I am so proud that our Foundation is helping him on his way to what I know will be a brilliant career.

Bravo Julian!!