On Thursday at 8pm, Jazz Night features guitarists Howard Alden and Bucky Pizzarelli. On Friday at 7pm, Bargemusic celebrates Independence Day with the Voxare Quartet and guest violinist, Mark Peskanov, playing works by Mozart and Dvorak. On Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 4pm, violinist Mark Peskanov, cellist Edward Arron and pianist Jeewon Park play works by Haydn, Beethoven and Dvorak.

Dear Music Lovers,

What an exhilarating week we just had!

This past Friday, NeoLIT ensemble, in their Bargemusic debut, gave an exciting performance of many interesting new compositions by American women composers.

And if that was not exciting enough, we had a special guest in attendance-Steve Smith, prominent music writer-and this time he was assigned by the New York Times to review this concert. Fast forward two days later: I am at the computer at 1am reading the music review of our concert from the New York Times website. It’s a beautiful review, where the writer compliments the musicians for their performance, composers for their compositions and in his words, Bargemusic for its “admirable Here and Now series, which celebrates contemporary American music.”

This Thursday, two of the very finest guitar players you’ll ever hear are performing here. And Friday is our big celebration of Independence Day.

Fast rewind to the early 70s in an Odessa, Soviet Union, movie theater: I am with a friend of mine and his mother watching a French comedy titled something like “Inspector Cousteau in New York.” I was twelve and for the first time I was seeing New York City. It was totally overwhelming. It was in color. I saw the Statue of Liberty, China Town and the Empire State Building. I have no idea how this movie passed the censorship back then. At the end of the film, I was full of tears and so was my friend. In that moment, we both felt hopeless behind the Iron Curtain. I could never have imagined then how I would be practically holding the hand of the Statue of Liberty from our Bargemusic tented roof this Friday.

Happy Independence Day and Lots of Love,
Mark Peskanov

On Thursday at 8pm, Jazz Night features Ted Kooshian’s Standard Orbit Quartet. On Friday at 8pm, in the debut performance of the Neolit Ensemble, flautist Amelia Lukas, cellist Victoria Bass and pianist Katya Mihailova continue our Here and Now Series with Celebrating American Contemporary Women Composers. On Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 4pm, violinist Mark Peskanov, cellist Inbal Segev and pianist Navah Perlman play works by Mozart, Brahms and Shostakovich.

Dear Music Lovers,

This last week, we presented five concerts and three different programs on the Barge. Jeffrey Swann performed in four of them: two solo recitals and two with the Voxare Quartet, with whom he played Mozart and Chopin concertos, both beautifully and excitingly. The Voxare Quartet, in their debut at the Barge, provided excellent support. They also showed a lot of character. Earlier that week, their viola player, Erik Peterson, became very sick with a 104 degree temperature. He had to be rushed to the hospital (later the tests showed that he had a case of salmonella poisoning). I don’t know how, but he took some antibiotics and there he was, quite a bit pale on the Bargemusic stage, in top form, playing to Saturday’s full house.

This weekend, I’ll be sharing the Bargemusic stage with two lovely young ladies, whom I have known for quite a few years: cellist Inbal Segev and pianist Navah Perlman. They are both very fine performers. I have invited each of them to perform at the Barge many times over the years, but this is not all they have in common. They’re both young mothers. Both have given birth to twins. Between the two of them, they’ve got seven children!!!!!!! Navah is ahead right now, with one more. The score is pretty close: it’s four to three. I think it’s remarkable, because not only are they such dedicated mothers, but also they continue to maintain a concert schedule. I rehearsed with both of them last week and they were in excellent form. I think maybe even better than before. If I was a mother (and of course I’m not) and if I had to manage taking care of children while performing concerts (and of course I don’t), they would be my source of inspiration. Especially, since I haven’t been in touch with Clara Schumann for years now.

Also, this Friday at Bargemusic: the debut of a new, young and gifted group - Neolit Ensemble.

Looking forward to seeing you, dear music lovers.

Lots of Love,
Mark Peskanov

On Thursday at 8 pm, Jazz Night features saxophonists Logan Richardson and Jeremy Viner, bassist Chris Tordini, pianist Jesse Elder and drummer Nasheet Waits. On Friday at 8 pm, pianist Jeffrey Swann presents “Music and Nature,” a program of works by Schumann, Liszt, Messiaen and Debussy. On Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 4 pm, Jeffrey Swann and the Voxare Quartet play works by Schubert, Mozart and Chopin.

Dear Music Lovers,

Here is a little summary of the first 18 days of our summer calendar: The artists, through their amazing effort and skills, bring to life works of more than 40 composers—and you, dear music lovers, with your great presence and participation in partnership with the artists, help to create great concert performances.

Last weekend André-Michel Schub played Beethoven trios with great style. He is certainly one of the best musicians around. Most of you probably remember when he won the First Prize at The Van Cliburn Piano Competition. I remember my first performance with him—we played Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata at the benefit concert for Carnegie Hall.

This week, Jeffrey Swann brings his uncommon skills to the Barge—his effortless style of piano playing and deep knowledge of the pieces he performs. (He was 17 years old when he won the Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition.) He also, I believe, speaks 9 different languages, besides the language of music. This weekend Jeffrey Swann will perform Mozart & Chopin concertos—a very special treat. Also I’m very pleased to introduce the young, new Voxare Quartet in their debut at the Barge. I’m so pleased that Jeffrey Swann will collaborate with them. It will be an invaluable experience for this aspiring quartet, something that I have experienced many times as a young musician. When you begin to perform with great musicians, then, I believe, the real school begins. That is what it takes, welcome to the real world. See you there!

Until then,

Lots of Love,
Mark Peskanov

This Friday and Saturday at 8 pm violinist Mark Peskanov, cellist Adrian Daurov and pianist Olga Vinokur perform works by Mozart, Dvorak and Schubert. On Sunday at 4 pm, The Gramercy Trio plays works by Faure, Schumann and Nicholas Underhill.

Dear Music Lovers,

The good news is that I received our summer calendar in the mail a few days ago, which means most of you have had a similar experience. We’ve already been receiving many phone calls and emails from you making reservations for upcoming concerts. (It’s posted in our website as well.) Summer concerts at Bargemusic are always a breathtaking experience because the warm weather inspires you to visit our deck and also the newly tented roof before concerts and during intermissions to enjoy the great panoramic view that includes the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn Bridge, and recently the Statue of Liberty (due to the removal of the old sheds on the left of the barge).

Last Sunday I enjoyed seeing and hearing Claude Frank. It was a special treat listening to his interpretation of Beethoven piano sonata No. 31. This Friday and Saturday I’m looking forward to performing with my colleagues Schubert’s great e flat trio, also known as (Welcome to Heaven), Mozart’s G Major Trio and Dvorak’s Four Romantic Pieces for Violin and Piano.

This Sunday an old friend Randy Hodgkinson is visiting us with his Gramercy Trio in an exciting program which includes Schumann’s magnificent F Major Trio. Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend this Sunday’s performance due to my previous engagement (a benefit concert in Bronxville, NY for the Meals on Wheels organization) but just in case… please save me one aisle seat.

Thanks and lots of love,
MP

Tonight at 8 pm, Bargemusic presents Jazz Night with pianist Liz Magnes. On Friday night at 8 pm, Split Second—Marc Peloquin and Roberto Hidalgo’s piano ensemble—performs works by Virgil Thompson, Mario Lavista, George Crumb, Samuel Barber and the world premiere of Steven Burke’s “Alchemy.” On Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 4 pm, violinist Andy Simionescu, cellist Denis Brott and pianist Claude Frank play works by Kodaly and Beethoven.

Dear Music Lovers,

The last two weekends were something of a rollercoaster. The Your Choice Concert Series on May 16th and 17th proved to be an exciting ordeal. People were very clear with their choices, and we did not know until an hour before the scheduled performances what we would be playing. I was on the phone with Steven Beck every few hours with new requests. We received quite a few votes both concerts. For the first concert, on Friday, the Kreutzer sonata had the same number of votes as the 4th and 5th Beethoven sonatas, but due to special circumstances (a request from a couple about to be engaged) we played it. On Saturday the program was totally different. After the program we were so lost in the moment that we asked the audience to choose the encore—one movement from any of the sonatas (there were over 40 sonatas to choose from, close to 150 movements!) After a quiet moment, a lovely woman shouted, “The last movement of Brahms’ Sonata No. 3!” It proved to be an exhilarating experience for us as performers and audience alike. In the last week of September, we will continue the Your Choice Concert Series with piano trios selected from the complete piano trios of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Maybe next time we will ask the audience to vote at least a few hours before the concert!

The concert on Sunday, May 18th featured the works of Paul Schoenfield. He made a guest appearance as a pianist, and the performance of his piece for piano four hands was very special. He had a beautiful way of communicating with the audience.

The following week, on May 24th and 25th, it was an adventurous experience playing David Del Tredici’s piano trio. It’s a masterpiece in my opinion. It is one movement without pauses—from the first note to the last, it takes over 40 minutes. It is one line, one enormous breath. Although it’s tonal it is very complex and requires tremendous energy. It is beautiful, mysterious, incredibly passionate, exciting, and hypnotic for the audience. Did I mention that is was one of the hardest trios I have ever played?
Whew!

This weekend I would especially like to welcome Claude Frank, who along with cellist Laslo Varga was my chamber music collaborator in the Beethoven c minor piano trio at the Aspen Music Festival when I was about 18 years old. They were both very welcoming to me and made me feel extremely comfortable. It was a wonderful experience to play with such venerable performers; they made it so much easier for me. I would like very much to take this opportunity to give my great respect and gratitude to Claude’s late wife Lilian Kallir, a wonderful pianist with whom I performed the Mendelssohn d minor piano trio at Aspen a few years later.

Until next week,

Lots of Love,
Mark Peskanov

This Friday night at 8 pm and Saturday at 4 pm, violinist Mark Peskanov and pianist Steven Beck inaugurate the Your Choice Concert Series with a program of violin sonatas by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. One sonata by each composer will be selected according to the popular vote. On Sunday at 4 pm, Opus Two (violinist William Terwilliger and pianist Andrew Cooperstock) with cellist Allison Eldredge and special guest pianist Paul Schoenfield present a concert of pieces by Paul Schoenfield.

Dear Music Lovers,

In a way, the Your Choice Concert Series started many years ago in Odessa, Ukraine on the 5th floor of an historic 19th century building that Pushkin used to visit in the 1820s. The building was huge—at least I thought so at the time. The first four floors had very high ceilings and the marble stairs were quite spectacular. An iron spiral staircase led from the 4th to the 5th floor, where the servants lived before the revolution.

The apartment that I was born in was on the 5th floor. My grandmother purchased that apartment after World War II. It was just one small room, and she moved there with her two daughters. Then eventually my mother married my father and they had two sons. I’m the youngest. Eventually it was five of us living in that room. We had dozens of neighbors on the 5th floor. That room had a window—a miracle window. When you looked out the window you saw a miraculous view of the Black Sea. I could see great big ships coming to the Odessa port hours before they arrived at the port. They had all different flags from around the world; that’s how I learned about the different flags. The view was totally unobstructed. If you leaned from your window to the left you could see a little bit of the most beautiful opera house. I would spend hours at the window.

I spent the first 11 years of my life in this apartment. Even though it was such a small space, all the relatives and friends would gather for anniversaries, birthdays, etc. Our grandfather had the most amazing, powerful tenor voice I ever encountered in my life. When he sang the chandelier would shake. I started to play violin when I was 7 years old. My brother had started to play piano 3 and a half years earlier and we were soon performing at all the gatherings for our relatives and their friends. Not one event occurred without us playing for most of the evening. Everybody always asked us to play all kinds of repertoire—classical and non-classical, songs they could sing along to, and music they could dance to. Somehow when we played the place seemed to be much bigger.

Bargemusic is such a place—a family place. There is a great feeling of warmth that comes from everyone who is here. The East River, the magnificent view of the Manhattan skyline, and now an unobstructed view of the Statue of Liberty magnify that feeling of abundance. From my personal experience I have found that at most venues, concerts get booked well in advance. Performers and presenters agree on a program and all the other details of the performance. As a performer planning a future concert you hope to be inspired in one or two years at 8 pm to play that particular program.

On the Barge you never know if it will be low or high tide; how quickly the ships will pass, and how powerful of a wake the audience will feel at any given moment. I thought it would be nice for a change to bring more elements of great spontaneity and unpredictability into the performance. Both Steven Beck and I hope to get some ideas of the program a few hours before the concert. However the final results of the votes will be brought to us in a sealed envelope on stage at the start of the concert. We will open the envelope and announce to the audience the popular program choices. Until then,

Lots of Love,

Mark Peskanov

I attended the concert last night featuring pianist Fred Hersch and Jim Gailloreto’s Jazz String Quintet and I enjoyed it very much. Tonight the Jazz String Quintet returns at 8 pm as part of Bargemusic’s Here and Now: American Contemporary Music Series. This Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 4 pm violinist Mark Peskanov, cellist Raman Ramakrishnan and cellist Steven Beck perform Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven piano trios.

Dear Music Lovers,

Playing piano trios is a great privilege and fun for me, especially with the likes of Steven Beck and Raman Ramakrishnan, both of whom I met about six years ago and soon after invited to perform at the Barge. Performances always bring new experiences. Experiences bring challenges. Playing great music is such an experience. Every time you rehearse or perform, your perception is constantly being challenged because of endless possibilities and interpretations. But sometimes things can get both challenging and unpredictable outside of playing music … like this weekend.

About six weeks ago I received a phone message from Raman in which he proceeded to tell me about an engagement in Germany that he had gotten with his Daedalus Quartet. They have been playing together for quite some time now. They are a successful emerging quartet and I had a feeling this was a very important engagement for them. Raman mentioned in his message that he would be coming back to the States at noon on the day of the Bargemusic concert. Obviously we would have several rehearsals at the beginning of the week. Sibce he had already accepted the Bargemusic engagement he left it up to me to make a decision. I said yes, because there were many times when I was in his situation and most of the time the decision made by other presenters (probably understandably so) was no.

I believe that by now the Daedalus Quartet has already played their concert and encores. Since Germany is 7 hours ahead of New York time, Raman is probably trying to get as much rest as possible so that he can be ready for his flight from Frankfurt to JFK tomorrow.

We are all hoping for very good weather Saturday and a predictable, unchallenging flight. Let’s leave all the endless challenges, possibilities and interpretations to our rehearsal at 5 pm and the concert at 8 pm. Until then,

Lots of Love,

Mark Peskanov

This Thursday at 8 pm, Bargemusic presents Jazz Night with Rob Schwimmer. On Friday at 8 pm, pianists Valida Rassoulova-Suk and Oxana Yablonskaya play solo and four-hand piano works by Mozart and Schubert. On Saturday at 8 pm violinist Andy Simionescu, violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama, cellist Matt Haimovitz and pianist Benjamin Hochman perform pieces by Francaix, Dihnanyi and Dvořák. And as part of the Here and Now: American Contemporary Music Series, the Flux Quartet presents a program that includes pieces by Terry Riley, John Cage and a world premiere by Justin Messina on Sunday at 4 pm.

Dear Music Lovers,

What a delicious bouillabaisse we are having this week! Our Barge is boiling with great excitement in welcoming the special performers who will be serving generous portions of tasty bouillabaisse to our audience members. The bouillabaisse is made of eleven terrific musicians: four pianists, three violinists, two violists, and two cellists—and specially spiced with theremin.

Each of the artists brings a unique flavor. There’s pianist-composer Rob Schwimmer, with his classical and jazz-influenced original compositions, which he always plays superbly. Valida Rassoulova-Suk and Oxana Yablonskaya add a very powerful texture that comes from the experiences and influences of being born and raised in the former Soviet Union, studying in the most prestigious school there, winning competitions, and coming over here and continuing with their artistic development teaching and performing. Andy Simionescu, Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Matt Haimovitz and Benjamin Hochman will add great tenderness and spiciness to the recipe, and finally the Flux quartet will make sure our bouillabaisse comes to a full boil and is served on 21st century china. Come and get it!


Lots of love,

Mark Peskanov

This Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 4 pm, Bargemusic welcomes I Virtuosi Italiani with Mark Peskanov as violin soloist in Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” On Friday, the first half of the program will include works by Rossini, Puccini and Paganini with the “Four Seasons” following after intermission. On Saturday and Sunday, the first half of the program will include works by Vivaldi, Galuppi and Albinoni with the “Four Seasons” following after intermission.

Dear Music Lovers,

Over the years, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons has become one of my favorite concerti to perform. Now, as I sit eagerly awaiting my first rehearsal with I Virtuosi Italiani (their plane is scheduled to land at 1:30 pm at Newark Airport), I am remembering many performances of the Seasons—some with conductors and some without; some with rehearsals and some without; some using music and some without.

As a soloist, I always enjoyed playing this piece without a conductor. With this greater responsibility, you also have greater freedom to communicate with the orchestra. I enjoy rehearsing with orchestras; it is a great LUXURY! It is always very exciting!

I also remember being very excited in a different way: performing the Seasons without any rehearsals. About 12 years ago, on a late winter night, I got a call from Minnesota. The late Iona Brown, a venerable violinist and conductor, was the scheduled soloist with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and, the day before their first concert, she suddenly come down with a terrible case of pneumonia. That night, the orchestra asked me if I could take the next plane to Minneapolis to fill her place. There were five concerts to perform, beginning at 11 am the next morning. So … I took the first flight from LaGuardia and arrived in the dressing room at 10 am. With the concert beginning in one hour, there was no time to rehearse. At 10:45, the concertmaster, principle cellist, and a harpsichord player came to my dressing room, and 15 minutes later we were on stage playing for 2,000+ audience members, with NO CONDUCTOR!

A few years later, I was performing the Seasons with another orchestra (with a conductor). In the first half, I played a few pieces, including Dvorak’s Romance in f minor, which, unlike the strictly stringed orchestration of Seasons, is scored for quite a few winds as well as the full string orchestra. The Seasons were scheduled for the second half. After intermission, as I entered the stage, I found that the stage hands had forgotten to place the music on the stand and, for some reason could not locate it. (Traditionally, soloists playing the Seasons use sheet music; the piece is very interactive, like chamber music, and quite long.) So, I took a chance playing the entire piece sans sheet music … and it worked! It was a very liberating experience. Since then, I have enjoyed playing this piece without music. It gives me a new dimension of freedom in communicating with the other musicians on stage.

I met I Virtuosi Italiani when I was performing in the Turku Music Festival in Finland during the summer of 1999. I liked the way they performed. In the winter of 2002 and again in 2004, I invited them to the Barge. They have had wonderful success in their performances at Bargemusic. It is a special experience playing Vivaldi with I Virtuosi Italiani, because I sense, possibly, traces of the Master’s DNA in the musicians!

There is knocking at the door … I Virtuosi Italiani have arrived!

I hope to see you this weekend at the concerts.

Lots of love,

Mark Peskanov

This Friday at 8 pm violinist Emanuel Borok and pianist Cullan Bryant perform pieces by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Ellen Taafe Zwilich, Richard Strauss and Tchaikovsky. On Saturday at 8 pm clarinetist Anton Dressler and pianist John Novacek play sonatas by Devienne, Brahms, Poulenc, Alexander Tcherepnin, Efrem Podgaiz and Bernstein. On Sunday at 4 pm the Clavier Trio with special guest flutist Ilze Urbane performs pieces by Copland, Jindrich Feld, Frank Martin, Lowell Liebermann, Peteris Vasks and Dvorak.

Dear Music Lovers,

The first live symphony concert I ever attended was at the Philharmonic Hall in Odessa, Ukraine. I was seven years old and although I had heard recordings I had never seen an orchestra in concert. They played Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in g minor, still now one of my favorites. I had just started violin lessons a few weeks before, so it was overwhelming for me to experience the sounds coming from the stage. I felt what a great privilege it is to play music and the great skill it takes to play violin. I was especially impressed by the concertmaster. He was so powerful and projected a command and a passion that the orchestra followed.

Eighteen years later I was the guest soloist with the Toronto Symphony in Canada and to my surprise this same concertmaster along with his son were now members of the violin section of the orchestra. I got to tell him how much he had inspired me. The concertmaster greatly influences a soloist’s performance. As a guest soloist you have very little time to acclimate to the orchestra. Even given a good communication with the conductor, it is invaluable to have a great concertmaster who is truly a liason with all the other players. I have had the great pleasure of working with many wonderful concertmasters.

I met Emanuel Borok, former concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, when I performed the Tchaikovsky concerto in Boston and Tanglewood. He is now the concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony.

Over the years many concertmasters have performed at Bargemusic. They bring a great wealth of musicality to recital and chamber music.

Lots of Love,

Mark Peskanov