On Sunday 19 May, there will be a concert in New York for Weinberg's centenary. The programme will feature long-term supporter of Weinberg's music, Yosif Feigelson, performing Weinberg's 24 Preludes for Solo Cello, as well as pianist Ilya Yakushev, and singer Daniel Singer, in a selection of Weinberg's Yiddish songs. Further details below:
MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG (1919-1996). Celebrating the centennial of one of the most prolific composer's ever who's life story reads like a novel. Please visit www.mweinberg.info to know more. Noted Latvian-born cellist,YOSIF FEIGELSON, who premiered and recorded the unique 24 Preludes opus 100in late 1990th to a wide critical acclaim, will perform them again. Also on the program, the audience beloved, Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) - one of his musical pictures has a prominent Jewish connection. The pianist is a world-class virtuoso, ILYA YAKUSHEV. In addition, well known cantor of SWFS, DANIEL SINGER, will perform several of Weinberg's Yiddish songs. Tickets at the door $40, $30 - in advance here, $20 - seniors and students (at the door). Children under 15 admitted free. This event is made possible by a generous gift from Elias Charitable Foundation, and by other private and business support. Visit www.improvis.org for more information.
2019 marks the centenary of Weinberg's birth, with numerous events, concerts, and recordings set to mark the event. On this blog, I will begin a series of posts to mark the centenary, with 100 throughout the year. Some of these will be short features, such as photos, key works, or re-posts of older articles on this blog. Others will be previously unpublished sources and photos, posted here to promote further research and scholarship on Weinberg and his music.
For now, watch this space. Here's a performance of Weinberg's first opus-numbered work, the Lullaby for piano:
I've just got back from another research trip, this time to Warsaw.
Of course, this is a city with strong links for Weinberg research, in that Weinberg lived the first nineteen years of his life here, before fleeing the Nazi invasion in 1939. See below for a few photos from my trip.
This is 66 Żelazna Street in Warsaw, the building where Weinberg lived 1919-1939. It's near the Wola district, an area that became part of the Warsaw Ghetto during the war. It's remarkable that it's still standing today, seeing as how much of Warsaw was flattened by the end of the war. It's looking in a sorry state, and is marked as an 'unsafe building'. I anticipate that it will be knocked down soon.
The flat where Grażyna Bacewicz lived, 35 Koszykowa Street.
The flat where Karol Szymanowski lived, 47 Nowy Świat (Joseph Conrad actually lived in the same building, several decades earlier).
During my research trip, I was lucky to meet with two composers, Paweł Szymański, and Paweł Mykietyn. Both were extremely kind in agreeing to meet, and generous with their time. Combine this with several library visits, and I have plenty of material to be getting on with for the 'Parallel Worlds' Weinberg book.
Perhaps the most exciting part of my trip was a rare opportunity to visit Lutosławski's home at 39 Śmiała Street. I was very honoured to meet with Marcin Bogusławski (Lutosławski's stepson) and his wife Gabriela Bogusławska. We had a long discussion, with Marcin reminiscing about his stepfather and his working methods. Here are a few photos from the house:
The plaque outside Lutosławski's house.
Lutosławski's desk (and some of his books).
The other end of Lutosławski's study.
All-in-all, an extremely exciting trip. Watch this space for further photos/news.
Apologies for 'Radio Silence' on this blog over the last few months; I've been busy with work and several other projects. I'm afraid that posts on this blog are likely to be much more infrequent than during my PhD - though I will endeavour to pick up the pace as I move onto my next piece of research (see below).
Here is an update on all things Weinberg related that have happened in recent months, or are upcoming later this year.
News
Preparations are afoot for several exciting events for 2019, Weinberg's centenary. It's early days for planning at the moment, but I can confirm that there are major celebrations planned for Manchester and London over 2019.
Performances of Weinberg's music continue to increase in frequency, especially in the United States, where his chamber music is enjoying special attention.
February's Moscow Conference was a fantastic success, featuring four days of talks and presentations, along with concerts and opera performances. For an excellent write-up of the event, see Michelle Assay's review in DSCH Journal, issue 47.
This year has seen new productions of The Passenger in Moscow, and also a new production of Congratulations ['Mazl' Tov!'] in Heidelberg.
Concerts
Later this year, Weinberg's Violin Concerto will receive several outings from several different touring ensembles. First, there is Gidon Kremer, continuing his passionate support for Weinberg's music. Secondly, there is Linus Roth, who has recently completed his project to record all of Weinberg's violin music. Finally, there is Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, who will be conducting the work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The Novaya Opera in Moscow have further performances of their hugely successful production of The Passenger - with more information available here. Also, see trailer below.
In October, Weinberg's Second Piano Sonata will be heard in the UK on two consecutive evenings, though by different pianists in different cities. Katya Apekisheva will perform the work on Fri 5 October, as part of the London Piano Festival at Kings Hall, and Murray McLachlan will perform it on Sat 6 October at the Stoller Hall in Manchester (McLachlan, of course, recorded a much-loved cycle of Weinberg's piano sonatas in the late 1990s).
In addition to all this, the Musikverein in Vienna will see a performance of Weinberg's Piano Trio by the Altenberg Trio with Christopher Hinterhuber.
Videos
The Semperoper Dresden supplied this extended preview of their production of The Passenger from earlier this year.
Similarly, the Moscow Novaya Opera supplied this trailer for their superb production of the same opera.
CDs
A number of exciting CDs are upcoming, or have just been released. Here is a selection:
The Silesian Quartet, Wajnberg, String Quartet 7 + Piano Quintet (Accord)
This disc is the first in a new cycle of Weinberg's String Quartets, performed by the excellent Silesian Quartet. If this CD is anything to go by, it will be a superb cycle. They are joined by pianist Piotr Sałajczyk for Weinberg's Piano Quintet.
Gabriel Chmura, Sinfonia Iuventus, Weinberg Fifth Symphony (Warner Classics)
The Polish Simfonia Iuventus, conducted by Gabriel Chmura, opt to combine Weinberg's Fifth Symphony with Prokofiev's Fifth in their first disc on the Warner Classics Label. This is sure to be an interesting combination, and I certainly look forward to this release.
Grigory Kalinovsky and Tatiana Goncharova, Weinberg Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano (Naxos)
Naxos continue their steady stream of Weinberg releases with this excellent set of Weinberg's sonatas for violin and piano - a welcome addition to the extensive range of options for this repertoire.
Publications
In terms of academic work on Weinberg, several upcoming releases are in preparation, though the majority are expected for the 2019 centenary. Several academic theses on Weinberg's music have been completed recently, including Anna Voskoboynikova on the piano works, and A.S. Conway on his Flute music.
As for myself, as well as regularly teaching at Royal Holloway, I am currently beginning work on a large-scale project that will result in a monograph on Weinberg in his Polish context(s). More details to follow soon.
As always, if readers wish to promote any new recordings, concerts, or any new research, please don't hesitate to get in contact.
