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HELLO
Welcome to the inaugural newsletter of the Dranoff International 2 Piano Foundation: "The Dranoff". Our mission is to bring two piano music
and artists to performance calendars worldwide.
We want you
to know about this beautiful ensemble music and the people who spend their
lives dedicated to bringing it to you.
The Dranoff is physically and emotionally
connected to Miami. Music,
however, always moves around boundaries, and
so will this newsletter. We think of this as a work in progress as it becomes a platform for this enticing form of music. Contributors and articles will vary, so make sure to check each edition for its unique contents. We always invite you to join us with your comments and thoughts. And we ask you to share it with your friends.
Gabriele Fiorentino
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CONTENT
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WHAT IS GOING ON IN MIAMI - The beginning of the season has everyone reading the various cultural calendars. We decided to put together a very personal calendar....read more
TWO PIANO MUSIC WORLDWIDE - This offers a list of performances by Dranoff laureates, solo and duo.....read more
REPERTOIRE FOR TWO PIANOS - Guests share their thoughts on favorite selections, or introduce new pieces, or discoveries...read more
THE COMPETITION - The core of The Dranoff is the International Two Piano Competition. Our next competition takes place in May of 2011 in Miami....read more
STORIES AND PICTURES - Little funny coincidences or facts or souvenirs, things to share....read more
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 WHAT IS GOING ON IN MIAMI
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The beginning of the season has everyone reading the various calendars offered by the Miami Herald, the Miami Season, Luxe Magazine and all the other publications along with net-based calendars. We decided to put together a very personal calendar with events of those organizations and galleries we have shared events with in the past.
NOVEMBER
11/8 Miami Bach Society - Asteria, Eric Redlinger and Sophie Rhyne, performing "Un Tres Doux Regard", vocal and instrumental music from the late Medieval Period. 4pm.
Riviera Theater, 1560 S. Dixie Highway, Coral Gables. www.miamibachsociety.org.
11/8 Pinecrest Presbyterian Church - Piano Duo Humburger, Dranoff International Two Piano Competition winners, playing a four handed program.
11:30am, 10400 SW 57 Ave, Pinecrest. 305 661 1009.
11/16 Friends of Chamber Music - The Talich Quartet. 8pm. University of Miami Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive, Coral Gables. www.miamichambermusic.org.
Bass Museum
10/3/09 - 2/21/10 - Dzine.
10/3/09 - 1/10/10 - Kent Henricksen: Wayward We Hunt.
11/7/09- Sleepless Night. 6pm - 7am.
12/3/09 - 3/14/10 - Where Do We Go From Here? La Coleccion Jumex
2121 Park Avenue, Miami Beach. www.bassmuseum.org.
DECEMBER
12/12 Duo Scarbo, Dranoff International Two Piano Competition Finalists, playing a program of 2 pianos, with student art. 3pm. Art South Sanctuary, 240 Krome Ave., Homestead. www.dranoff2piano.org
12/13 St. Martha Church - Nestor Torres, Flute, and Paul Posnak, Piano, performing classical favorites with a tinge of Latin jazz. 3pm. 9301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami Shores. www.saint-martha.org.
12/21 Friends of Chamber Music - Yefim Bronfman, Cho Liang Lin, Kyoko Takezawa, Roberto Diaz, William De Rosa. 8pm. University of Miami Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive, Coral Gables. www.miamichambermusic.org.
Last season, we had a wonderful series of joined performances with the Atlantic Classic Orchestra, and Maestro Stewart Robertson. Please check their season at
Atlantic Classical Orchestra
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TWO PIANO MUSIC WORLD WIDE
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2009
United States
11/4 Ruttgers University, Camden. Svetlana Smolina, solo piano and chamber concert. www.finearts.camden.rutgers.edu/events.php
11/8 Park Avenue United Methodist Church, New York City. Duo Stephanie Ho and Saar Ahuvia, 4-hand performance. www.licamusic.org.
11/9 Cornelia Street Cafe, New York City. Composers' Collaborative "Jazz, Rags and a Tango". Duo Stephanie Ho & Saar Ahuvia. www.composerscollab.org.
11/27 Jordan Kitts, Baltimore. "Intimate Letters". Duo Stephanie Ho & Saar Ahuvia.www.jordankitts.com.
11/30 , Longy School of Music, Boston. Masterclass by Maxim Mogilevsky.
12/4 Eastman School of Music, Kilburn Hall. Recital by Duo Maxim Mogilevsky and Svetlana Smolina.
Germany
11/7 Mauritius Kirche, Wiesbaden. Duo Hesse & Pauna.
12/31 Salmen, Offenburg, Duo Hesse & Pauna. www.weltklassik.de
Netherlands
11/6 Doelenplein, Rotterdam. Bolero by Maurice Ravel, Performed by Piano Duo Van Veen, percussion & wind ensemble.
Italy
11/20, 21, 22 Rome. Duo Trivella. Mozart program.
12/18,19,20 Rome. Duo Trivella, Donizetti program.
Croatia
11/19 Croatian Institute Hall, Zagreb. Duo Hesse & Pauna.
Russia
12/19 St. Petersburg Symphony, Maestro Vladimir Lande. Maxim Mogilevsky, piano.
Singapore
11/7 Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Singapore. Thomas Hecht, piano, and the Conservatory Orchestra, Wang Ya-Hui. Brahms, Berio, Beethoven.
2010
Canada
Grand Junction Theatre, Calgary:
1/ 7th, 7:30pm
1/ 8th, 7pm and 9:30pm
1/8th, 9.30pm
1/9th, 2pm and 8pm
1/ 10th, 2pm and 6pm
All performances on four grand pianos by Elizabeth Bergmann, Marcel Bergmann, Jeroen van Veen and the new Honens Piano Competition winner. Before the intermission, they perform Canto Ostinato by Simeon ten Holt. Tubular Bells will be performed with the Alberta Ballet.
Russia
1/ St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Big Hall, Maestro Leif Segerstam. Duo Maxim Mogilevsky and Svetlana Smolina.
1/ Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic, Maestro Alexander Skulsky. Duo Maxim Mogilevsly and Svetlana Smolina.
Israel
1/ Red Sea Festival, Eilat. Mariinsky Orchestra, Maestro Valery Gergiev. Duo Maxim Mogilevsky and Svetlana Smolina.
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REPERTOIRE FOR TWO PIANOS
by Martin Bookspan
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Darius Milhaud was one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. He also was one of the most prolific: his output totals more than 400 works in every genre--symphonic, opera, chamber and vocal music. He taught for years at Mills College in California, and among his pupils were Dave Brubeck, William Bolcom and Steve Reich.
For two years beginning in 1917 he was a member of the diplomatic staff of the French legation in Rio De Janeiro. He was captivated by native Brazilian music, and a few years later by jazz which he experienced as a visitor to New York. Both elements find their way into his own music.
One such work is a brief Suite of three movements which Milhaud titled "Scaramouche", composed in 1937. There is a chicken-and-egg situation here, because "Scaramouche" exists in two versions: one for 2 pianos, and one for saxophone and orchestra. Which came first? Most evidence points to the 2-piano version, but the renowned saxophonist, Sigurd Rascher, maintained that Milhaud composed the work for him and then later made the arrangement for 2 pianos.
Whatever the case, "Scaramouche", no matter what performing forces are involved, is a thoroughly delightful work--a real fun piece! And its brief concluding section, Brazileira, is of course a reminiscence of Milhaud's "salad days" in Rio. We of the Dranoff obviously have a special place in our hearts for the 2-piano score!
Martin Bookspan, the voice behind Live From Lincoln Center, is the Chair of the Artistic Advisory Board of the Dranoff International Two Piano Foundation.
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THE COMPETITION
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Our next competition takes place in May of 2011 in Miami. This section will keep you in the loop.
The official cycle starts in January 2010, with the formal announcement of the dates to over 300 conservatories worldwide. Next month we will be able to release the names of the Artistic Advisors to the 12th Dranoff International Two Piano Competition, as well as the members of the Competition Committee.
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STORIES
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Genova & Dimitrov, winners of the 1997 competition,
fell in love with Miami; they purchased a home in Miami Beach earlier this year. Last month, Aglika and Luben visited Miami to look after things. During this stay, they gave a
performance in one of Dranoff's exclusive and intimate Salon Concerts
in a private home.
Having just
performed on large stages during their China tour, they now were to play in
the living room of this beautiful home designed by Thurston Hatcher in 1964.
An hour before the start of the concert, a tree fell on a power line, and everything went out. Most everyone present
had survived countless hurricanes, so a little unseasonable heat of near 90F and total darkness did not deter
anyone - least of all the pianists.
Windows were opened, candles were
lit, chairs pulled up outside, and the magic began. Fingers were
dancing on keys unseen, Ravel's Waltz rose from flickering scores. It was an unforgettable evening!
The power came back as the last guests were leaving.
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Duo Scarbo
Elena Hammel & Laura Sanchez176 Key to Europe
European Music for 2 pianos from the first half of the twentieth century.
Music makes wonderful gifts for the Holidays, both as personal and as corporate gifts. Please visit our website to order CDs. For large orders, give us a little more time.Order CD's
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About The Dranoff
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The Dranoff was founded in 1987 with the mission to advance two piano music and its artists. Since then, we have contributed 11 new compositions to the literature, and have been a career stepping stone for dozens of piano duos worldwide.
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