The Bonneville Chamber Music Festival starts its ninth season on March 2. As in the past, the festival will feature some familiar standard repertoire along with a few surprises. “It is going to be a mix of known and unknown works,” said cellist and festival founder Viktor Uzur in an interview with Reichel Recommends.
Viktor Uzur
One of these little known pieces is Anton Arensky’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, op. 35, with the unusual scoring of violin, viola and two cellos. “This is not frequently performed,” Uzur said, “but it is a wonderful piece and very well written.” It’s a work that is reminiscent of early Rachmaninoff in its harmonic language, and it is distinctly Russian in its impression. “It has a dark sound which is typical of Russian music of the 19th century.” There are also elements of Russian Orthodox Church music and Gregorian Chant in the quartet. Stylistically, it’s far removed from Arensky’s more popular and more often performed D minor Piano Trio, op. 32, Uzur said. “I think [the quartet] is going to be a real treat for the audience.”
The Arensky will be paired with Schubert’s glorious Cello Quintet, D. 956, a phenomenal work that is a cornerstone of 19th century chamber literature. Both are part of the festival’s closing concert on March 21. Performing at this concert will be festival regulars Mikhail Bereznicky, viola, and cellists Suren Bagratuni and Uzur. They’ll be joined by newcomer Livia Sohn, violin. “Livia is a wonderful young violinist,” Uzur said. “I am so happy she will be with us this year.”
The festival opens true to tradition with the Richter Uzur Duo, which teams up Uzur with guitarist Brad Richter, who has been a part of BCMF since its inception.
The duo typically programs arrangements of popular music as well as crossover pieces. This year, though, they’ve decided to do things a bit differently and include other material as well. “It’s going to be a mixed genre program that’s going to transcend boundaries,” Uzur said. Included in the program will be European folk music and original pieces. (The duo will be the guest artists on the March 3 Highway 89 program on Classical 89. The live concert will air at 8 p.m.)
Livia Sohn (Photo Credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco)
In between these two concerts, the rest of the programs will feature a broad range of works, including Tchaikovsky’s monumental Piano Trio in A minor. “We’re playing this for the first time,” Uzur said. “It needs an outstanding pianist, because it is almost a piano concerto.” Joining Uzur for this program, which takes place on March 18, will be pianist Paolo André Gualdi and violinist Carmelo de los Santos.
“The Tchaikovsky is a magical piece. The variations in the second movement are full of contrasts. It is a fantastic work and will be another nice treat for the audience.”
Morton Feldman’s Rothko Chapel will be on the March 20 concert. “Mikhail [Bereznicky] is an expert on this piece. He has played it many times.”
Written in the early 1970s, Rothko Chapel is scored for viola, cello, bassoon, horn and choir. “It is a modern piece,” Uzur said. “I find it very interesting. It’s well constructed and well laid out, and I hope the audience will enjoy it.”
There will also be a family oriented concert on March 16 that will feature magic tricks along with a classically themed program. “We are trying to make it fun and introduce kids to classical music. I am really excited about this.” The concert is free of charge and parents are encouraged to bring their small children. It takes place in the Weber County Library, Pleasant Valley Branch, 5568 S. Adams, Washington Terrace.
Except for the March 18 concert, performances will take place in venues in and around Ogden (see the concert schedule below for locations). “We’re experimenting this year,” Uzur said. In the past, concerts have taken place in Allred Theatre in Weber State University’s Val A. Browning Center. “We wanted to explore other intimate venues and reach out and have a bigger presence in the community.”
Below is a schedule of events. Unless otherwise noted, admission is $7 general, $6 seniors and military with ID and $4 students. Tickets can be purchased by calling 801-626-7000 or 800-978-8457 or by going online to www.weberstatetickets.com.
For more information and artist roster log on to the festival website at http://www.weber.edu/bcmf.
- BONNEVILLE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: “REACHING OUT – NEW SPACES – NEW SOUNDS”
- March 2, 7:30 p.m., “Richter Uzur Duo: Dances and Dreamscapes.” Brad Richter, guitar; Viktor Uzur, cello. Weber County Library, Pleasant Valley Branch, 5568 S. Adams Ave., Washington Terrace.
- March 16, 6 p.m., “Family Evening: Magic and Music.” Camelo de Santos, violin; Paolo André Gualdi, piano. Weber County Library, Pleasant Valley Branch, 5568 S. Adams Ave., Washington Terrace. (Free; no age limit.)
- March 18, 7:30 p.m., “From Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio to Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances.” Carmelo de los Santos, violin; Viktor Uzur, cello; Paolo André Gualdi, piano. Allred Theater, Val A. Browning Center, Weber State University
- March 20, 1:30 p.m., Cello Master Class with Suren Bagratuni. Val A. Browning Center, Room 113, Weber State University. (Free and open to the public.)
- March 20, 7:30 p.m., “Acoustical Reflections: Rothko Chapel.” Mikhail Bereznicky, viola; WSU Chamber Choir; Mark Henderson, conductor; Thomas Priest, bassoon; Steve Park, horn; Viktor Uzur, cello. First Presbyterian Church, 880 28th Street, Ogden.
- March 21, 7:30 p.m., “Festival Finale: The Celebrated Schubert Quintet and Arensky Quartet.” Livia Sohn, violin; Mikhail Bereznicky, viola; Suren Bagratuni and Viktor Uzur, cello. First Presbyterian Church, 880 28th Street, Ogden.