|
|
|
|
克城消息
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Angelin Chang/Erich Eichhorn Benefit Recital at CSU
June 11, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
A faculty recital at Cleveland State
University is generally an enjoyable experience, especially if the
faculty involved are pianist *Angelin Chang* and violinist *Erich
Eichhorn*. This particular recital had a bit of poignancy built in, as
Mr. Eichhorn had, five days earlier, retired from The Cleveland
Orchestra, having been a member of the first violin section for 40
years.
After last month's disastrous earthquake in China,
however, the Cleveland Council on World Affairs approached CSU's
president Michael Schwartz with the idea of making the recital a
benefit performance (normally, there would have been no admission
fee). Dr. Schwartz was immediately receptive to the idea, and with the
help of /Anthony Yen/ and the Tenax Corporation, the campaign was
launched.
The entire evening thus became a giant love-in on many
levels. There were an abundance of local politicians present,
encouraging the supporters of this event. Certificates were presented
to all participants by the offices of Mayor Jackson, presented by
Councilman /Joe Cimperman/ and Senator Voinovich, presented by his
liaison with the city, /Mr. Reed/. /Ronn Richard/ of the Cleveland
Foundation and /Peter Lawson Jones/, County Commissioner also spoke,
briefly as did /Mark Santo/ of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs,
and /Eddie Ni/, of the Yellow Tail Buffet in Fairlawn. /Anthony Yen/
was the genial and informal master of ceremonies, practicing to be a
stand-up comedian. (That remark is meant in an entirely complimentary
manner as he had everyone laughing almost continually as he spoke.)
By evening's end, more than $25,000. had been
raised, an impressive amount, but still a mere pittance when
confronted by the effects of the earthquake: 70,000 known dead,
300,000 injured and more than 5 million persons left homeless. As a
point of reference, the population of the entire State of Ohio is
eleven million.
Ms. Chang, a 2007 Grammy winner, displayed her sensitive yet
authoritative and very poetic style in the /Serenade/ or /St?ndchen/
from /Schwanengesang/ by Schubert. This was followed by /Papillons,
Op. 2/ by Schumann. There are so many moods in this cycle, and Ms.
Chang captured every one of them, distilling them all into a musical
essence not soon forgotten.
She closed the first half of the program with the
/Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543/S.462/ of Johann Bach, as
transcribed by Franz Lizst, who came to maturity almost a century
after the death of Bach. Had the piano (as we know it) not been
invented in the meantime, Lizst would surely have had to invent it
himself, for no mere harpsichord could stand up to the demands of his
imagination. Fortunately, Ms. Chang is a pianist who has no fear of
Liszt (or anyone else, I think) and provided an incredible listening
experience.
After the brief intermission, Mr. Eichhorn joined his colleague on
stage for the /Sonata for Violin and Piano in D minor, Op. 108/ by
Johannes Brahms. This work, from late in the composer's life, finds
him at the peak of his composing skills, creating difficulty for all
participants! However, these two masters were not in awe of it.
They've no doubt performed it many times in past years.
The first two movements displayed beautiful
playing by both musicians, but in the third, Brahms suddenly uncorks a
sense of humor. Brahms! Really. A delightful sequence ensues with
syncopation and rhythmic off-beats, first by the piano then the
violin. A few measures later, the violin plucks on the off-beats, as
the piano continues on its way. With no pause or hesitation, it's
Boom! Right into the fourth movement /Presto Agitato/, which totally
lived up to its name, with lots and lots of notes! Intensity and
passion were the bywords of this collaboration, which resulted in an
immediate and well-deserved standing ovation.
If you would like to contribute to *Earthquake
Relief in China*, the Cleveland Council on World Affairs will be more
than happy to accept your donations which are tax-deductible. All
proceeds go directly to the Red Cross Society of China, and will
provide aid to victims, including medical care and relief item
distribution. Checks should be made payable to: Red Cross Society of
China - Earthquake Relief. Mail to: CCWA, 812 Huron Road, Suite 620,
Cleveland OH 44115 For more information: 216-781-3730 x102. Although
there is no specific information posted about the Earthquake Relief
Fund, the web-site is: http://www.ccwa.org/ -- Kelly Ferjutz |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Angelin Chang and Kelly Ferjutz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
