Musical Delicacies – Concert of Polish & Ukrainian Chamber Music
$50 ($35 student/ages 65+/child/veteran)
- Alexander R Adams, bass-baritone
- Emma Burge, violin
- Mia HyeYeon Kim, piano
- Valentyn Lysenko, bandura
- Allison Pohl, soprano
- Ksenia Popova, soprano
- Lark Powers, piano
- Ricardo de la Torre, piano
- Mark Hilliard Wilson, guitar
Valentin Silvestrov (Valentyn Sylvestrov) — Selected works
Mykola Lysenko — Selected works
Stanisław Moniuszko — Selected works
Grażyna Bacewicz — Selected works
Myroslav Skoryk — Selected works
Myroslav Volynsky — Selected works
Moritz Moszkowski — Selected works
Indulge yourself in special musical treats of romantic works by Polish and Ukrainian composers at a very special place in Tacoma – Lakewold Gardens Estate, on a lakeshore in romantic garden settings.
The Polish word Rarytasy (originated from Latin rāritās) has multiple meanings as delicacies, curiosities, and rarities. The romantic music of Poland and Ukraine in our recital unites all three meanings. We will present musical delicacies in the form of art songs and chamber music to please your musical taste buds.
The recital program includes:
- Art songs by Frederic Chopin, Mykola Lysenko, Tadeusz Baird, and Myroslav Volynsky
- Chamber music by Henryk Wieniawski, Victor Kosenko, Grazyna Bacewicz, Valentyn Sylvestrov, and Valentyn Lysenko, among others
- Piano works for four hands by Moritz Moszkowski and Myroslav Skoryk
About PNW Kobzar Project
PNW Kobzar Project continues the authentic Ukrainian kobzar tradition of story telling via the language of music and art songs.
Kobzar (Ukrainian кобзар) literally means 'kobza player', a performer on Ukrainian stringed instrument of the lute family, and more broadly — a performer of the musical material associated with the kobzar tradition. The professional kobzar tradition was established during the Hetmanate Era around the sixteenth century in Ukraine. Kobzars accompanied their singing with a musical instrument known as the kobza, bandura, or lira. Their repertoire primarily consisted of para-liturgical psalms and "kanty", and also included a unique epic form known as "dumas" (Ukrainian equivalent of epic ballads, literal translated to English as "thoughts").
Kobzardom in Ukraine is similar to Western European poet-musician tradition such as Celtic bards, Old Nord/Eddic scalds, French troubadours, and Greek kitharodes. In Ukraine the word kobzar is associated with the great national poet Taras Shevchenko who was greatly influenced by kobzar traditions. His most famous poetry collection is called Kobzar. Urkainians show Taras Shevchenko the deep respect to his contributions to Ukrainian language and literature by calling him Kobzar. In PNW Kobzar Project concerts, we will include art songs based on Taras Shevchenko’s lyrics as well as the instrumental chamber music inspired by his literary and artistic heritage.
In addition to artistic aspect, kobzars were also old Ukrainian tradition keepers and news spreaders while traveling town to town and village to village. They played the role of the social media independent from the state authorities. During the time of serf system introduced to Ukraine by the Russian Empire (1783-1861) kobzars were those few people in Ukraine who could travel and speak freely though both administrative state and religious authorities of the Russian Empire did everything possible to reduce the influence of kobzars.
https://pnwkobzarproject.bandzoogle.comAbout Alexander R Adams, bass-baritone
Alexander R Adams is a classically trained bass-baritone singer and voice teacher, born and raised in the Seattle area. He received his Master of Music from the University of Southern California and his Bachelor of Music from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Alexander's opera roles include King Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos, Publio in La clemenza di Tito, Minister in Iphigénie en Tauride, Mr. Plunkett/Judge in The English Cat, and Sprecher/Armored Man in Die Zauberflöte, and Sergeant of the Police in Pirates of Penzance. The latest engagement was the role of Doctor Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro at Vashon Opera.
In 2018 Alexander started a private voice studio where he currently teaches online lessons to students of a variety of ages and skill levels. Alexander is also a composer. His most recent project is a collection of art songs based on poems by Edgar Allan Poe.
https://adams-voice.com/aboutmeAbout Emma Burge, violin
Violinist Emma Burge is an avid supporter of contemporary and new music, seeking to combine her classical training with improvisation. Emma is a third generation Suzuki violinist, whose grandparents Sandy and Joan Reuning were pivotal in bringing the Suzuki method to the U.S. Emma recently moved to Seattle from Boston, where she got a degree from the New England Conservatory and was an active freelancer/teacher. Because of her intense performance education, Emma has learned a lot about balance and how to use music as a positive force.
https://www.phoenixorch.org/emma-burge-violinAbout Mia HyeYeon Kim, piano
Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Mia HyeYeon Kim began her piano studies at age seven. Her accomplishments include prizes competitions including the Frances Walton Competition founded by Ladies Musical club of Seattle, the Metropolitan International Piano Competition, Texas International Piano Competition, Memphis International Piano Competition, Universal Music Competition, and Seoul Philharmonic Competition. Recently, she won the concerto competition at University of Washington, and performed Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 with the UW Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Rahbee. She has performed as a soloist at venues such as Alvin Johnson/J.M. Kaplan Hall in New York, Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory in Boston, Cypress Hall at California State University Northridge, Youngsan Art Hall in Seoul, and the Palazzo del Vignola with the Napolinova Orchestra in Todi, Italy. She also presented at masterclasses for legendary pianists including Richard Goode, John Perry, Julian Martin, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Enrico Elisi, Boris Slutsky, Jason Kwak, Hieyon Choi, and Gary Graffman.
https://www.pianistmiakim.com/About Valentyn Lysenko, bandura
Valentyn Lysenko brings back to life the 17th-century bandura, the iconic Ukrainian psaltery. He graduated from Kyiv National Music Academy. Valentyn is a master builder of his own instruments. Valentyn has appeared as a headliner on numerous events in Ukraine and the United States including live TV shows, solo and gala concerts, and art exhibitions. He performs classical works for the academic bandura and variations of folk music as well as his own compositions. The unique and wonderful sound of Valentyn's bandura creates a lofty and festive atmosphere.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVBMXu-BnOzGany08Iy0-RgAbout Allison Pohl, soprano
Soprano Allison Pohl's vivacious stage presence and spirited singing have inspired enthusiastic responses across three continents. Her work has received positive reviews for her "sparkling voice" (outerstage.com) and "exuberant" performances (Opera News). Of her performance in L'elisir d'amore at Virginia Opera, The Washington Post wrote: "Allison Pohl stood out with a ripe, flavorful soprano and ample character."
Allison has appeared with opera companies and orchestras throughout the United States, including Boston Lyric Opera, New York City Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Saratoga, Tacoma Opera, Vashon Opera, Opera in the Heights, Opera Providence, Opera on the James, Seattle Symphony, Canton Symphony, Symphony Tacoma, Bremerton Symphony, Seattle Philharmonic, Garden State Philharmonic, Harmonia Seattle, and SkyOpera, and has been a soloist for orchestral tours in both Italy and China.
As a member of Soprello, Allison has performed chamber music across North America with cellist Alistair MacRae. She is a Seattle Opera Career Grant recipient, winner of the Seattle Philharmonic Concerto Competition, is on faculty at Brevard Music Center, and holds degrees from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music and Boston University.
http://allisonpohl.com/About Ksenia Popova, soprano
About Lark Powers, piano
About Ricardo de la Torre, piano
About Mark Hilliard Wilson, guitar
Mark Hilliard Wilson is an active performer, teacher, and director of the Seattle Guitar Orchestra, which he founded in 1999. As cathedral guitarist at Seattle's St. James Cathedral, he has performed there weekly since 2006. Wilson has written or arranged more than 200 works, and avidly explores new venues for the performance of classical music while addressing contemporary issues through concert programming. Music has always been everything to Wilson, from the barrel organs he heard in his childhood in Holland to the symphony orchestras in Washington, DC and country bands in Weiser, Idaho. He continues to study and embrace the wonder of new places and the creativity of the wonderful artists of every stripe in the world.
https://markhilliardwilson.com/