March 8-9
REFLECTION
Saturday | 3.9.19 | 8:00 PM
The Chelsea Symphony presents its chamber concert series, REFLECTION, featuring two pieces written during the two world wars. Ravel's Tombeau de Couperin was written as a set of Baroque-inspired pieces in memoriam for six friends (or in one movement, for two brothers) who perished during World War I. The light-hearted nature of the work belies the somber inspiration; of the work, Ravel said, "the dead are sad enough, in their eternal silence."
Paired with this is a piece by French composer Fernande Breilh-Decruck, Cinq poèmes chrétiens (Five Christian Pieces) for voice and orchestra with text by French poet Jean Racine. Written and performed in 1944 in occupied France, Decruck was afforded performance opportunities for her works she would not otherwise have had. After the war, she was shunned and died at an early age. Decruck has special ties to The Chelsea Symphony - she lived in the London Terrace apartments in Chelsea from 1928-33; TCS co-Artistic Director Matthew Aubin is the foremost scholar on Decruck and is leading the charge on a resurgence in interest in her work. TCS welcomes mezzo-soprano Kate Maroney as soloist on this special performance.
On Friday's concert are the Haydn Trumpet Concerto featuring Stephen Lyons and a world premiere work by two members with a long connection to TCS - composer Benjamin Louis Brody presents a world premiere for bassist Nick Lenchner entitled Forever Melodies, Solo for Double Bass and Orchestra. Saturday's concert presents Erich Schoen-René performing the Haydn Cello Concerto in C Major.
Both concerts open with Fascist Baby, a world premiere by TCS composer Tim Kiah.
Concerts will be held at St. Paul's German Lutheran Church, 315 West 22nd Street
Tickets for reserved unassigned seating in a premium area are on sale at Eventbrite!
Tickets also available at the door for a suggested donation of $20.
Program
Fascist Baby
(World Premiere)
Featured Artists
Kate Maroney
Voice
Friday, 3.8, Saturday, 3.9
Fernande Breilh-Decruck.: Cinq poèmes chrétiens pour voix et orchestre chambre
Recognized for “vibrant and colorful” singing (The New York Times) mezzo-soprano Kate Maroney’s recent soloist appearances include with Gare St. Lazare throughout Ireland, the international tour of Einstein on the Beach from 2012-2015, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Master Chorale of South Florida, Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Santa Fe Symphony, Berkshire Choral Festival, TENET, Carmel Bach Festival, Opera Grand Rapids, NYBI at Trinity Wall Street, LA Opera, Lincoln Center Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Musica Sacra, Bach Collegium San Diego, Princeton Pro Musica, …
Erich Schoen-René was born into a musical family and began playing cello at the age of four. He is the recipient of a double undergraduate degree in music performance and German from Bard College, a master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music, and considers himself very lucky to have studied with cellists Maxine Neuman, Luis Garcia-Renart, and David Geber. Erich has played extensively in the New York area, as well as in Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, and Croatia, and can be …
Originally from East Lyme, CT, Stephen Lyons is a performer and educator who has enjoyed playing frequently in the past several seasons with the Chelsea Symphony. He teaches around Putnam County, CT as a brass instructor and serves as the music theory teacher, theater sound designer, and band director for all grade levels at Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury. He is in demand as a movement and music instructor for drum and bugle corps, winter percussion programs, and marching bands. …
Benjamin Louis Brody
Composer
Friday, 3.8
Benjamin Louis Brody: Forever Melodies, Solo for Double Bass and Orchestra (World Premiere)
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, now Brooklyn based, Benjamin Louis Brody has been described as one of the most progressive and multi-faceted musicians in New York City. He’s best known for creating beautiful walls of sound with ambient textures, combining post- rock and modern minimalism to create a dynamic resonance with his listeners.
Most recently, in 2018, Brody released his album, 'Far Away Music,' with UK record label Preserved Sound. The album is derived from Brody’s previous compositions, manipulated and …
Nick Lenchner
Double Bass
Friday, 3.8
Benjamin Louis Brody: Forever Melodies, Solo for Double Bass and Orchestra (World Premiere)
Born in Astoria, Queens, double and electric bassist Nick Lenchner grew up in northern New Jersey where he studied privately with Alexandre Tannous. He attended the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College for five years under the tutelage of Linda McKnight. He continued to work with Mrs. McKnight at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University and graduated with a degree in double bass performance. He has had additional private lessons with Robert Black, Kurt Muroki, Joe …
Tim Kiah is a Brooklyn-based composer, vocalist, and bassist. He has been commissioned by Chamber Music America, Lincoln Center, La Mama Theatre, the Washington Square Winds, the Gusto Chamber Players, and the Northern Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra in Newcastle, England. His works have been premiered at venues such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and have been broadcast on NPR. He is a member and composer of The Chelsea Symphony.
Upon moving to New York, Kiah, a registered nurse, formed a …
Conductor
A leader in the 21st century orchestral landscape, Dr. Matthew Aubin is constantly reaching new audiences through innovative performance formats and creative initiatives both on and off the podium.
The 2022-23 season kicks off Dr. Aubin’s inaugural year as Music Director of the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he is Music Director of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and serves as Artistic Director of The Chelsea Symphony. In his role at TCS, he has led highly visible collaborations with partners such …
Reuben Blundell has been a Chelsea Symphony conductor/violinist since 2012, enjoying collaborations with musicians, soloists, composers and other conductors. Conducting Aaron Dai’s The Night Before Christmas, first with B. D. Wong then Annie Golden narrating, he initiated, conducted and edited (in Premiere Pro) the orchestra’s 2020 remote performance, narrated by John Lithgow.
Blundell is Music Director of the Riverside Orchestra on the Upper West Side, rehearsing Mondays and performing five concerts each season. He also directs another outstanding community …