Postcards from Curtis

Curtis On Tour comes to Mexico this month. Performing at the...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:25:02 -0400

Curtis On Tour comes to Mexico this month. Performing at the Conservatorio de Las Rosas in Morelia are Curtis President Roberto Diaz (viola), faculty member Jason Vieaux (guitar), alumnus Soovin Kim (violin), and student John-Henry Crawford (cello). Other April tour stops include Costa Rica and Brazil…stay tuned for more from Latin America.

"The interpretations, too, seemed to crackle with that vibrant, yin-yang electricity between equal..."

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:00:55 -0400

“The interpretations, too, seemed to crackle with that vibrant, yin-yang electricity between equal and deeply connected poles: detachment and passion, masculinity and femininity, age and youth.”

- Washington Post, reviewing the March 14 Kennedy Center performance.

Curtis faculty member David Ludwig discusses his double...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:39:13 -0400

Curtis faculty member David Ludwig discusses his double concerto Seasons Lost, performed by Jennifer Koh, Jaime Laredo, and the Curtis Chamber Orchestra as part of Curtis On Tour this week.

Video courtesy of JenniferKoh.com: Jennifer Koh and Jaime Laredo...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:30:46 -0400

Video courtesy of JenniferKoh.com: Jennifer Koh and Jaime Laredo discuss their upcoming “Two x Four” collaboration.

On the road again: the Curtis Chamber Orchestra joins Jennifer Koh and Jaime Laredo for performances in Philadelphia (March 11), New York City (March 13), and Washington, D.C. (March 14) as part of Curtis On Tour.

Jaime Laredo (’59) performs alongside his former student Jennifer Koh (’02) on four double concertos by J.S. Bach and Philip Glass, plus new commissions by Anna Clyne and David Ludwig. Called Two x Four, this project celebrates the relationship between teacher and student through music.

A private performance by the Curtis On Tour ensemble at a home...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:17:59 -0400

A private performance by the Curtis On Tour ensemble at a home in beautiful Palm Beach, FL. Curtis supporters enjoyed an intimate concert performed by Curtis President and viola faculty member Roberto Díaz (‘84), violinist Steven Copes (‘94), and cellist Tessa Seymour.

"The three musicians presented a program of string trios characterized by precision, clarity and..."

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:47:09 -0500

“The three musicians presented a program of string trios characterized by precision, clarity and power.”

- Vera Green for Don411.com, reviewing Curtis On Tour performance in Sarastota, FL

February 3: the Curtis On Tour ensemble at the Bok Tower Gardens...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:31:58 -0500

February 3: the Curtis On Tour ensemble at the Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida. Built by the husband of Curtis founder Mary Louise Curtis Bok, it boasts one of the world’s finest carillons and nearly 50 acres of gardens. The Bok Tower Gardens celebrates its 84th anniversary this season.

Curtis On Tour performs in Sarasota’s intimate Jane B....

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:47:28 -0500

Curtis On Tour performs in Sarasota’s intimate Jane B. Cook Theatre tonight. The school’s connection to Sarasota dates back to the 1930’s, when alumnus David Cohen founded the ensemble that later became the Sarasota Orchestra. Today Curtis On Tour makes regular visits to Sarasota, returning for the sixth consecutive year.

Curtis president and Grammy Award-nominated viola faculty member...

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:03:00 -0500

Curtis president and Grammy Award-nominated viola faculty member Roberto Díaz (‘84), violinist Steven Copes (‘94), and cellist Tessa Seymour (pictured above left to right) perform in South Florida this week. Part of Curtis On Tour, which presents tomorrow’s leading musicians performing alongside celebrated Curtis faculty and alumni, they appear in Lake Wales (Feb. 3), Sarasota (Feb. 6), and Fort Myers (Feb. 8).

"They embody passion, precision, and, despite their youth, an already astonishing musical maturity...."

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:36:44 -0400

“They embody passion, precision, and, despite their youth, an already astonishing musical maturity. Students of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia belong to the crème de la crème of up-and-coming musical talent in the US.”

- Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Check out more coverage of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra’s performances in Dresden at curtis.edu

Some highlights of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra’s trip to...

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:57:06 -0400

Some highlights of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra’s trip to Dresden, captured in an audio slideshow. The full week included two orchestra concerts, rehearsals, a chamber music marathon, coachings with local music students, and plenty of time to explore the city.

The Chamber Music Marathon at the Volkswagen Transparent...

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The Chamber Music Marathon at the Volkswagen Transparent Factory, a unique tourist attraction, concert venue, and working factory in the heart of Dresden. For over four and a half hours, Curtis students performed chamber music in various combinations, from German masterworks by Beethoven and Brahms to compositions by Curtis students. Photos: © Die Gläserne Manufaktur

Behind the scenes in Dresden: eating, rehearsing, and gathering...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:44:06 -0400

Behind the scenes in Dresden: eating, rehearsing, and gathering outside the hotel. Photos by violinist Timmy Chooi.

Impressions of Dresden

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:35:17 -0400

Violist and 2012 Curtis graduate Jessica Chang beautifully sums up the orchestra’s trip to Dresden.

In my three years at Curtis, I’ve learned that we always strive to push our musical boundaries. We’re taught in classes and coachings to explore possibilities— as individuals, as ensembles, and as an institution. The Curtis Symphony Orchestra’s tour to Dresden has been exactly that. I can’t imagine a more incredible capstone to a busy year! As a very recent graduate, I was even more excited to have an extra week full of music, friends, and concerts.

Our first concert at the Frauenkirche will always rank among my most favorite Curtis performances. What an honor for us to open the Dresden Music Festival! Not only did we fully represent Curtis on the international stage, but we also brought the music of Brahms back to its roots. We pushed our boundaries to work together and to learn to play with the gorgeous Frauenkirche as an instrument—to listen and to play together took much teamwork, and to colors and sounds I will never forget.

Also, who in the world decides to program a four hour-long chamber music concert AND expect a full audience? Call it a marathon, and every Curtis student will want to play. Along with my colleagues, I was pumped to be part of the Chamber Music Marathon at the Transparent Volkswagen Factory in perfomances of Gabriella Smith’s Kisiabaton and Beethoven’s String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135. Thanks to Matt Barker’s careful eye, the program achieved a balance in repertoire and instrumentation, and the audience certainly rivaled our beloved Field Concert Hall audiences in enthusiasm. What also excited me about the Chamber Music Marathon was the venue—futuristic, bold, and unusual. In particular, it got me thinking about looking beyond “typical” concert venues and audiences to exciting new collaborations. Though we don’t have the Transparent Volkswagen Factory in Philadelphia, we can definitely chew on the idea of combining unexpected venues and adventurous programming!

Finally, the Curtis Symphony’s collaboration with Royston Maldoom and the students of “Let’s Dance! 2012” was a new and unique artistic collaboration for all. It was remarkable to experience Mr. Maldoom’s choreography, actualized by over 100 talented students from Dresden, to a piece that we had worked with intimately and performed previously. I think we were all inspired by their focus and precision, especially since all of us in the orchestra kept turning around in rehearsal to watch what was happening on their stage (I plead quite guilty to the preceding charge)…

The whole tour was a whirlwind of activity—from sightseeing around Dresden to attending the Vienna Philharmonic’s dress rehearsal, dining on the Elbe River, and performing orchestral and chamber music works—and what a privilege to share these experiences among the tight-knit community of Curtis students and staff! We’ve expanded our experiences and sights during our time in Dresden in many ways as individuals, as an orchestra, and as a school. As we boarded our buses at 4:30am for the final drive back to Frankfurt, I grew sadder and sadder with the realization that I’d just played my final Curtis concerts ever. Bleary-eyed, I looked back and saw rays of sun yawning over the river—rising on a fresh summer and new Curtis season ahead, both with promises to continue looking beyond our own horizons.

A big thank you for an unforgettable Dresden tour to all who made it possible!

- Jessica T. Chang

Dresden as seen through the camera of viola student Ren...

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 09:54:30 -0400

Dresden as seen through the camera of viola student Ren Martin-Doike.

Impressions of Dresden

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:01:45 -0400

Although the students are back from Germany, their impressions of Dresden continue. Horn student Katie Jordan remembers the rehearsal and concert in the Frauenkirche.

After traveling all day on Sunday to get to Dresden, I’m going to call this blog post “Day 2” of our fantastic tour. We all had the morning off, and left the hotel ready to explore the Altmarkt square, filled with carnival-ish food and complete with a Ferris wheel. Covered wagons and various carts offered the aromas of cooking bratwurst, fried dough in many shapes, and even cotton candy! Local crafts and souvenirs dotted the square as well. With our bags filled with goodies, we hurried back to the Quartier Frauenkirche to prepare for a dress rehearsal.

Playing at the Frauenkirche is a unique experience: the beautiful pastel colors on the walls and gold-plated arches paint a European landscape. The dome seems improbable, with never ending balconies. It was impossible to imagine how many people would fit in this gargantuan space.

Despite the pastoral setting of the historic church, our dress rehearsal was nothing short of a disaster. The four-second reverberation seemed to turn everything into mud. As a horn player, I usually love to play in spaces with the acoustics of a lovely marble bathroom, however this was crazy. In solo sections, it seemed like we played with our own echoes. Dismayed by this turn of events, we trudged back to the hotel hoping for some miracle.

Upon returning to the church later that evening for the concert, the inside was teeming with many attendees. The church basement was our dressing room— but this was no ordinary basement. The arched stone walls created a cavernous space, but it was well-lit. Four corners of the room housed remnants of the old church that stood prior to the World War II bombing of Dresden. Most of the basement was reconstructed, but there were a few areas that still housed old tombs. The other areas were more reminiscent of a museum: tombstone heads, stairwells leading to nowhere, and statues.

Nathan Laube, a Curtis graduate, played the organ to open both halves of the concert. Although used as a concert space, the organ preludes brought a certain greater reverence to the venue. The first half finished spectacularly. The soloists of the Brahms Double Concerto received thunderous applause, as well as the Academic Overture. I only played on the second half, but even from the depths of the church basement, the sounds of the orchestra could be heard.

Finally, we ascended the stone stairway to the altar in preparation for the Brahms symphony. With this stage set up, the brass and percussion were seated what felt like a mile away. The fears of the earlier dress rehearsal began to creep into my mind as I sat down. Though it was still intermission, the hundreds of faces staring back seemed closer than usual. But I looked down the line and saw the familiar faces of my colleagues grinning eagerly, and knew that we would be fine.

In actuality, the entire audience soaked up about two and a half seconds of that initial echo, which turned the church into a different place acoustically. It was no longer a marble bathroom; it was a hall. The symphony flowed from one movement to the next. The final movement was one of complete relief, an acknowledgment of the passionate and mature sound coming from our ensemble. We received five standing ovations, each louder than the next. Later in the evening during dinner, we were informed that that many ovations were extremely rare! As for my second to last Curtis orchestra concert, I’d consider it one of the best.

- Katie Jordan

A few photos snapped by trombone student Brian Santero.

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:01:14 -0400

A few photos snapped by trombone student Brian Santero.

Impressions of Dresden

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:51:33 -0400

Keith Buncke, a bassoon student from Oregon reflects on the entire trip to Dresden.

The Curtis Symphony Orchestra has just finished its week-long tour to Dresden, Germany, and all of the students in the orchestra and the gracious staff and chaperones are currently riding on the plane from Frankfurt to Philadelphia. Looking back on this past week, it has been extremely rewarding, fun, and eye opening, not to forget exhausting from the jetlag! This is not only my first experience on an international orchestra tour, but also my first time travelling to Europe.

Even though it was a school-sponsored trip and we had several rehearsals and concerts, it was almost as if the whole orchestra took a group vacation. There was a lot of time built into our schedules to sightsee or just get some rest. One of my favorite sight-seeing excursions on this trip was walking up to the top of the Frauenkirche, or the Church of Our Lady, the most well-known and prominent landmark in Dresden. The church is one of highest buildings in the city if not the highest if I remember correctly, and standing at the top provided a panoramic view spanning from the Elbe River to the city’s numerous historic buildings to the rolling hills across the landscape. We also got to tour the Semperoper (the opera house in Dresden), the Volkswagon factory, and the local markets and stores.

One of the most memorable experiences on the trip for me was the orchestra’s opening concert at the Frauenkirche. Our hotel was conveniently located just across the cobblestone square from the church. It was pretty remarkable to see and play in the church since it was reconstructed in 2005 after bombings during WWII. The acoustics were typically church-like, very live and boomy, but also quite clear. In the concert, whenever there was a pause after long chords, I could hear the reverberation for several seconds after the chord was played. This is an experience one does not get in a typical concert hall!

I only played in the first half of the all-Brahms concert, so I had the opportunity to go up into the audience seating and listen to the orchestra perform Brahms’s Second Symphony. I thought the church’s acoustics suited especially well the first and second movements of the symphony. Listening to those first two movements was like floating in a warm bath. The church’s resonant acoustics didn’t suit the third movement as well, which is the lightest and most staccato of the four movements, but it was still beautifully played. They finished off with the exhilarating finale, and the audience was extremely receptive, and rightly so. The orchestra played its absolute best in this concert. What an exciting night for us all.

The second and last concert the orchestra performed was just last night at the Messe Dresden. This venue was definitely not as visually spectacular as the Frauenkirche, but any lack of visual grandeur was compensated by a stunning performance of Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra with dance choreography. I did not play on this piece either, so I got to sit in the audience and take part in an experience I’m sure I will never have again!

The dance choreography brought a completely new aesthetic dimension to the Concerto for Orchestra, a piece I have heard many times. At the same time though, the choreography masterfully complemented the push and pull of tension throughout the music and the numerous colors Bartok weaved into his score. The Concerto for Orchestra, being an abstract piece of music, does not have any kind of literal story associated with it. However, the dancing portrayed some kind of character sketch that made it seem as if Bartok’s work was meant to have a story. What that story is is vague and open-ended, and I think that is what the choreographer intended. I remember one moment in the fourth movement, a part that sounds like boisterous carnival music, where the dozens of young dancers ran around with briefcases. The dancing and music seemed to depict busy American city life. This concert was a novel and stimulating experience for me, and I always look forward to these kinds of interdisciplinary collaborations. Both the dancers and the orchestra brought their best foot forward, and it was a real treat for the audience and the artists.

- Keith Buncke

Shots from rehearsal for the May 18 “Let’s...

Tue, 22 May 2012 17:48:20 -0400

Shots from rehearsal for the May 18 “Let’s Dance!” concert with students from Dresden’s schools. Amazingly, they had no formal dance training. Choreographer Royston Maldoom worked with them to create the performance. Copyright: Dresdner Musikfestspiele/Oliver Killig

Impressions of Dresden

Mon, 21 May 2012 21:03:31 -0400

Elizabeth White Clark, a harp student from Salt Lake City, remembers the first rehearsal for the May 18 “Let’s Dance!” concert with students from Dresden’s schools.

Wednesday was an exciting day for some of the Curtis students in Dresden. I was one of those. As the Brahms concert didn’t contain any harp, I was able to watch that beautiful concert, but not play in it. Wednesday was the first day I got to rehearse with the Curtis orchestra in Dresden. In the afternoon, we made our way to Messe Dresden which is about ten minutes away from the central city spot. We walked into a building that looks like a storage space or airplane hangar of sorts. Inside, we were greeted with a stage full of kids!

On this program, we are performing a piece by David Ludwig, the Bernstein Symphonic Dances, and then ending with the Bartok Concerto for Orchestra. With the Bartok, we are going to be having child dancers. The program is called “Let’s Dance!” The kids all seemed excited to perform with us. As I got there, I uncovered the harp. As we were unable to transport our own to Dresden, Curtis rented two harps from somewhere here in Dresden. I am going to be performing on a German harp. Not too different from what I play on regularly—other than the weight, pedal fluidity, and spacing between the strings—it will work out great.

This day, our first rehearsal with the students, we ran through the Bartok twice in order to make the dancers comfortable with our pacing. This gave some of us students the opportunity to watch the choreography while we weren’t playing. It is quite beautiful. The dancers are telling a story that I believe relates Bartok’s experience as he came to the United States. There is a portion in which a backdrop of New York City is projected onto a screen while the dancers are running around in pandemonium while constantly holding their wrist to their faces as if checking the time on a watch. The choreography is rather ingenious and allows the audience to think about the deeper meaning behind what they are doing. We were all excited to present this performance to the audience here in Dresden. We are excited to present this performance to the audience here in Dresden and hope it will be as sensational as the previous all Brahms concert!

After rehearsal, we had the unique opportunity to watch the sound check for the Vienna Phil. The horn students were particularly excited about this. The horns in the Vienna Phil are distinguished from all other orchestras because of the way they are built. Also, the trumpets position their instrument differently. This produces a different sound. After the sound check, students were raving about the sound the Vienna Phil produces and the unity in the sections. Many students said they were inspired to go home and practice more. It was wonderful to watch! But alas, there was no harp on their all Mozart concert.

After watching their sound check, we all were treated to a delicious meal at a lovely venue along the Elbe River. The scene was beautiful as we sat in a windowed room with beautiful paintings and carvings on the walls. Curtis treated the students as well as a few of our wonderful donors and staff. It was supposed to be a “Curtis Party” and it was. The German meal was superb. German food has taken some getting used to, but it looked so beautiful this night and tasted great in our hungry stomachs.

This day was wonderful all the way through and this trip has been fantastic. We are staying in such a beautiful city, playing great music, eating good food, and being with wonderful people. To the Curtis staff and family, “Thank you!” This trip has already been a huge success!

- Elizabeth White Clark