tag:liebesfreud.org,2005:/blogs/news-2ded097c-76c0-4bc7-b6d0-06d1dfc540fe?p=1News2023-10-16T10:57:15-04:00Liebesfreudfalsetag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924862019-11-30T19:00:00-05:002023-12-10T11:31:34-05:0017th Annual Beethoven's Birthday Benefit
<p>For 16 years, Liebesfreud's musicians have offered a concert to benefit an area organization which provides sustenance and succor to Philadelphia's homeless. <br>This year, Phil and Dave are joined by Paul Roby and Patricia Daniels. <br>Our venue this year is in the northern suburb of Elkins Park. <br>December 16th at noon. <br>Please see the 'calendar' page for more information. <br>Thank you. </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924852019-05-17T20:00:00-04:002023-12-10T11:33:28-05:00Summer Hiatus
<p>After our 98th "Last Fridays" Series program, Liebesfreud takes our normal summer break. <br>As usual, the members each go their separate ways for a few months. After such time though, for the last 16 years we have returned reinvigorated and ready to tackle the physical and philosophical demands of the miraculous string quartet literature. <br><br>This year is a bit up in the air though as Charlie will be heading to Maine for some much needed family time and is enjoying it so much that he's hinted he may stay there! <br><br><em style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Muss es sein?</em><span style="color:#222222"> – </span><em style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Es muss sein! <br><br><br></em></p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924842019-03-17T20:00:00-04:002022-05-17T15:16:15-04:00Another New(/Old) Venue
<p>Once again, The Rittenhouse Savoy comes to the rescue. About four years ago the Art Alliance was double-booked and the Savoy - with only a couple hours notice - graciously opened its doors to Liebesfreud. <br>As the Art Alliance building is undergoing renovations, the Savoy once again demonstrates its "neighborliness" by inviting Liebesfreud in to disrupt with a little Haydn and Beethoven. <br>5:30p.m. Free admission. Welcome! <br>www.Liebesfreud.org/calendar.html </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924832018-11-30T19:00:00-05:002022-05-29T17:51:28-04:00Great Old Music, Wonderful New(/Old) Venue
<p>Please join Liebesfreud for our 16th Annual Beethoven's Birthday Concert! This time we move to the Old City section of Philadelphia to perform in the former Saint Paul's Church, now home to Episcopal Community Services. All donations to support ECS programs. <br>www.Liebesfreud.org/calendar.html</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924822018-09-12T20:00:00-04:002022-05-25T06:10:03-04:00Lucky 13
<p>Liebesfreud begins its thirteenth season of "Last Fridays" programs. <br>We're closing in on a hundred of these- this month's is #93. <br>... www.Liebesfreud.org/calendar.html <br>Mozart and Mendelssohn start the proceedings with Beethoven to follow in November. December's highlight will be the annual Beethoven's Birthday Concert. <br>Stay tuned ... and welcome to your "Lucky 13"! </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924812018-06-25T20:00:00-04:002022-06-01T02:07:39-04:00"Pop-up" / "Musical Tasting" / "Sneak Preview"
<p>Call it what you will, but just don't miss it! <br> ~ THURSDAY, June 28th - 3:00 p.m. ~ <br><br>Recent Curtis grad and talented-cellist-soon-to-solo-with-the-Philadephia-Orchestra!, Zachary Mowitz, joins for some Schubert and Tchaikovsky's "Rococo" Variations. <br>Zachary performs the latter at the Mann Music Center next month. We only hope his schedule will allow him to be with us again later this season (stay tuned) for the complete Schubert Cello Quintet, a monument in the chamber music literature. <br><br>~ 3:00 p.m. / Thursday, June 28 ~<br>(We couldn't wait till June's "Last Friday" to share this program with you!) <br>Elkins Central (in the recently renovated Elkins Park train station) <br>7876 Spring Avenue, Elkins Park <br><br>Program length: about an hour<br>Admission: Free </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924802018-01-26T19:00:00-05:002022-05-20T11:23:02-04:00New Chapter in Liebesfreud Series
<p>Liebesfreud began its 13th season yesterday evening with its 88th "Last Fridays" program which was also the first in a new partnership with the University of the Arts. <br>UArts has joined with the venerable Philadelphia Art Alliance on Rittenhouse Square, the principal venue for Liebesfreud's chamber music series since the spring of 2007. <br>https://www.uarts.edu/news/uarts-art-alliance-join <br><br>Haydn and Beethoven featured in next performance, February 23, 2018. <br>www.Liebesfreud.org/calendar.html <br>Admission: Free </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924792017-12-31T19:00:00-05:002022-05-31T13:04:47-04:00Mozart turns 262
<p>Happy 2018! <br>And the beginning of Liebesfreud's 13th year of "Last Fridays" concerts. <br>Liebesfreud will soon celebrate Mozart's birthday - again - for the thirteenth year in a row now. <br>This time his well loved "Hoffmeister" quartet will be paired with a little Beethoven. <br>Free admission at the historic Philadelphia Art Alliance edifice on Rittenhouse Square. <br>(details on the 'calendar' page) </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924782017-08-27T20:00:00-04:002022-05-23T11:04:39-04:00Liebesreud's 13th Season on the Horizon
<p><span style="color:#191919; background-color:#f2ede2">Liebesfreud's thirteenth season officially begins, Friday, October 27. <br>Mozart and Brahms. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#191919; background-color:#f2ede2">We look forward, once again, to sharing with you some of the most wonderful, beautiful and meaningful music ever written for the string quartet. </span></p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924772016-12-31T19:00:00-05:002021-10-08T11:28:37-04:00Liebesfreud's 12th Year of Free "Last Fridays" Concerts Begins
<p>January 27th, 2006 - Liebesfreud is the only String Quartet in America to present a free all-Mozart concert to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. <br>That date also marked the first in a series of programs, "Last Fridays", all free and open to the public, 80 of which have been presented to date. <br>The next, THIS January 27th, also includes Mozart - the G minor Viola Quintet with guest, Jason DePue - paired with another late work of fellow genius, Mendelssohn.</p>
<p>please see the 'calendar' page for details </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924762016-11-23T19:00:00-05:002022-05-12T03:19:26-04:0014th Annual WinterShelter Benefit Approaches
<p>December 18th @ 6p.m. <br>Once again Liebesfreud combines a celebration of Beethoven's birthday with the opportunity for us all to soften the lives of those less fortunate. All donations go directly to Trinity Center's program to house and feed Philadelphia's homeless through these winter months. <br>This time around, Mark Gigliotti, Shelley Showers, Socrates Villegas and Rob Kesselman- all of Philadelphia Orchestra fame!- join the festivities for Beethoven's thoroughly enjoyable 'Septet'. <br>Wine & Cheese reception to follow. <br><br>~ Please see the 'calendar' page for details. ~ </p>
<p><br></p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924752016-09-17T20:00:00-04:002022-05-09T06:21:23-04:00Liebesfreud's 12th Season on the Horizon
<p>Liebesfreud's twelfth season officially begins at 5:30p.m. on September 30th <br>with quartets by two of music's most gifted and devoted composers in the string quartet genre. <br><br>Haydn, known as the father of the string quartet (and the symphony, for that matter) wrote so engagingly for this chamber ensemble. He earned the admiration of Mozart and Beethoven, but by the time he began his final string quartet- op. 103- he realized his powers were beginning to wane so he stopped writing after completing only two movements, noting as he did, "Gone is all my strength; old and weak am I". <br>Notwithstanding this self-assessment, the work as it exists (like the Schubert "Unfinished" symphony and Mozart [uncompleted] mass both of which the Philadelphia Orchestra perform this week) is a masterpiece and a great gift to music lovers. <br><br>Schubert, even though his lifespan was so much shorter than Haydn's, left a truly remarkable legacy as well and it is impossible to imagine the world without his heartrendingly beautiful "Rosamunde" quartet [op. 29] which is the feature work of this one-hour program. <br><br>As always- admission is free for concerts in this "Last Fridays" series. </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924742016-07-13T20:00:00-04:002022-04-15T11:50:16-04:002016 - 2017 Season Announcement
<p>Liebesfreud is pleased to announce another season of our "Last Fridays" series at the Art Alliance. <br>There will be programs in September, October & November of this year, and January, February, March & May of 2017. <br>We will also continue our tradition of our Annual Beethoven's Birthday concert at the Trinity Center for Urban Life, as a Benefit for the program "WinterShelter" which helps Philadelphia's homeless.</p>
<p>Details to be released in late August.</p>
<p>Thank you, all, and have a great summer! </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924732015-12-31T19:00:00-05:002022-05-10T13:36:35-04:00Much to Celebrate
<p><span style="color:#141823; line-height:19px">Liebesfreud rehearsals are under way for our "Last Fridays" 10th Anniversary concert on January 29th. </span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="color:#141823; line-height:19px">(The first program in 2006 was on the occasion of Mozart's 250th "birthday". ) </span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="color:#141823; line-height:19px">And the upcoming program, on January 29th, will be our 75th! <br></span><span style="color:#141823; line-height:19px">Schubert's wondrous and largest scale chamber music work, the Octet, is featured. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#141823; line-height:19px">In addition to the "usual suspects", joining are all old friends: </span><a class="profileLink" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" href="https://www.facebook.com/miles.b.davis" data-imported="1">Miles Blazer Davis</a><span style="color:#141823; line-height:19px">, Principal Bass, Orchestra of Opera Philadelphia - Kathryn Mehrtens, French Horn with the P</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display:inline; color:#141823; line-height:19px">ennsylvania Ballet Orchestra - Mark Gigliotti, co-Principal Bassoon, Philadelphia Orchestra - and traveling from half the world away, <a class="profileLink" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.facebook.com/weilengwilliam.chen" data-imported="1">Wei-Leng William Chen</a>, former Principal Clarinet with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. <br></span></p>
<p><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display:inline; color:#141823; line-height:19px">This concert will be a benefit for the Philadelphia Art Alliance which has been our longtime collaborator in presenting this free "Last Fridays" series. </span></p>
<p><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display:inline; color:#141823; line-height:19px">Please come! </span></p>
<p><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display:inline; color:#141823; line-height:19px">(details on the 'calendar' page) </span></p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924722015-11-25T19:00:00-05:002021-07-27T02:03:16-04:00Thanksgiving as our 10th Season Draws to a Close
<p>Liebesfreud's 10th season is almost in the books; but first, we pause to acknowledge - and THANK - the many fine artists and FRIENDS who have so graciously joined us over the last decade.</p>
<p>2006<br>Ricardo Morales, Mozart Clarinet Quintet <br>Harold Robinson, Dvorak Bass Quintet <br>Jennifer Montone, Mozart Horn Quintet K. 407<br>2007<br>Vivian Barton-Dozor, Schubert Cello Quintet<br>Clipper Erickson and Luigi Mazzocchi, Brahms Piano Quintet<br>Efe Baltacigil and Vivian Barton-Dozor, Schubert Cello Quintet<br>Alison Avery, Mozart Viola Quintet K. 593<br>Michal Schmidt, Elgar Violin & Piano Sonata op. 82<br>2008<br>Miles Davis, Dvorak Bass Quintet<br>Hugh Sung, Fritz Kreisler salon pieces<br>Sam Caviezel, Brahms Clarinet Quintet<br>2009<br>Mari-Liis Pakk, Noah Luft-Weissburg, Heather Wright and Regina Golovina, Mendelssohn Octet<br>Ana Tzinadze and Dane Anderson, Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence<br>Renard Edwards, Mendelssohn Viola Quintet op. 87<br>2010<br>Vivian Barton-Dozor, Arensky Quartet op. 35<br>Dara Morales and Jesus Morales, Brahms Sextet op. 18<br>Hugh Sung, music of Clara & Robert Schumann<br>2011<br>Christoph Eschenbach, Dvorak Piano Quintet <br>2012 <br>Ricardo Morales, Brahms Clarinet Quintet <br>Hai-Ye Ni, Beethoven op. 130 <br>2014<br>Vivian Barton-Dozor, Schubert Cello Quintet <br>Pierre Tourville and Hai-Ye Ni Mozart C minor Viola Quintet <br>2015 <br>Pierre Tourville, Brahms F major Viola Quintet</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924712015-11-17T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:17-05:00Beethoven's "Harp"
<p>Two opportunities to hear this wonderful masterpiece from the String Quartet literature. <br>November 27 (the day after Thanksgiving) in a one hour FREE concert at the Rittenhouse Savoy and December 20 for our Annual Beethoven's Birthday Benefit (for "Wintershelter"- $10 suggested donation). <br>Please see the 'Calendar' page for additional information.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924702015-10-17T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:17-05:00The Unknown Dvorak
<p>Well, maybe this is a little misleading... <br>... though we will be playing one or two beautiful - but little known - Dvorak love songs to prepare the way for his gorgeous op. 51 string quartet. <br>The venue is in the burbs, but not too far- only a one-minute walk from the Elkins Park train station.</p>
<p>October 31 at 4:15 p.m. <br>Free admission. <br>(please see calendar page) </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924692015-09-17T20:00:00-04:002021-12-21T07:54:55-05:00September 25th Concert Rescheduled
<p>Dear loyal audience members, <br>The weekend visit of Pope Francis is being anticipated greatly by the Philadelphia community. There will be many of you who would have difficulties traveling to our concert so we are <br>postponing this performance.<br>The replacement date is October 16. </p>
<p>We hope to see you all at this first-ever "Middle Friday"!</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924682015-03-11T20:00:00-04:002021-01-19T01:55:55-05:00Le retour de Pierre!
<p>May 1st ~ 5:30 p.m. <br>Pierre Tourville joins us again, this time for Brahms. <br>Audiences will remember, with great pleasure, M. Tourville's Philadelphia premiere in Mozart's C minor Viola Quintet last spring. This year Pierre has graciously agreed to join us in our season ending concert with the Brahms F major Viola Quintet. <br>The companion work - opening the program - is Haydn's 1772 F minor string quartet, which wraps up our survey this season of that composer's op. 20 (set of six quartets). <br>As with all the concerts in our "Last Fridays" series, admission is free - <br>although audience members this time will, in Mr. Tourville's honor, have the opportunity to make contributions (fully tax-deductible) to Musicopia. <br> ~ www.Musicopia.net ~</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924672015-02-17T19:00:00-05:002021-06-28T20:00:15-04:00Haydn and Beethoven
<p>Liebesfreud continues its "Last Fridays" series with a pairing of master and teacher. <br>The survey of Haydn's op. 20 string quartets continues with the A major (Divertimento) <br>followed by Beethoven's succinct yet remarkable op. 95. <br>~ program length, about an hour ~ <br>(admission: free)</p>
<p>... further details on the calendar page ... </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924662014-11-23T19:00:00-05:002022-05-06T10:09:21-04:00A Little Haydn & a Healthy Helping of Beethoven
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Those desperately seeking escape from their families’ bosoms can find refuge (and no food) at another of Liebesfreud’s “Last Fridays” shindigs. <br>This month’s program has no “hook”—no birthday or anniversary of which we’re aware—just two great canonical classics.</p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The first is Haydn’s Quartet in D major from Op. 20. <br>Our theme this season is Haydn’s series of six quartets Op. 20, significant because one could fairly say that these works mark the point at which the string quartet became the String Quartet. These early works are just as beautiful and as stupefyingly imaginative as all the other great Haydn quartets.</p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Beethoven’s first “Razumovsky” quartet, Op. 59, No. 1 is much bigger—in time scale and in the number of ideas set forth and integrated—than anything previously composed in the genre, but more importantly it’s just great music. <br>And hearing our interpretation in this concert will afford you the priceless opportunity to compare it with our upcoming “Beethoven’s Birthday Bash” performance of the quartet on December 21, sure to reveal an increase in depth and understanding.</p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Can you afford to miss this?</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924652014-09-30T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:17-05:00More Haydn to be Heard
<p>Liebesfreud explores another of the op. 20 works by this "father of the string quartet". <br>An open rehearsal at the end of October and a performance the day after Thanksgiving will be the next two opportunities to continue this journey with us. <br>[please see the 'calendar' page]</p>
<p>These programs are part of our Free "Last Fridays" series. </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924642014-08-31T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00Liebesfreud's 10th Season Opens
<p>Liebesfreud opens its tenth season of free "Last Fridays" programs on September 26th at Philadelphia's renowned Art Alliance on historic Rittenhouse Square. </p>
<p>This year's programs will highlight the six quartets of Haydn's op. 20 set, each paired with an adventurously contrasting work. This month will be the G minor Haydn and Debussy's stunning masterpiece in the same key. </p>
<p>Please come and celebrate "Classical Music Month" (as September was dubbed 20 years ago by President Bill Clinton) with Liebesfreud! </p>
<p>(details on the 'calendar' page)</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924632014-02-28T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00Pierre Tourville Joins Liebesfreud
<p>Liebesfreud anticipates the privilege and joy of yet another collaboration with an esteemed colleague. <br>Pierre Tourville has graciously agreed to join us to present one of Mozart's great and masterful Viola Quintets. Monsieur Tourville has selected the C minor quintet, originally conceived by Mozart for an octet of winds. <br>The Philadelphia Orchestra, under <em>Yannick Nézet</em>-<em>Séguin, </em>will be in the midst of a week long Mozart Festival (see www.PhilOrch.org) so M. Tourville and Liebesfreud offer this work to give lovers of Mozart one more cause for celebration. <br>The program will also include two Dvorak love songs for string quartet. <br>(more details on the 'calendar' page) </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924622014-02-01T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00Better Late than ...
<p>Probably without his inestimable contribution in the Opera genre, Giuseppe Verdi would not belong in the pantheon of great composers. <br>Still though, last year Liebesfreud was so looking forward to celebrating - with the rest of the world - the bicentennial of his birth... especially because his STRING QUARTET -unjustly neglected! - is a truly great work of genius. <br>Some of you may remember our disappointment when we had to postpone its [November 2013] performance because Dave was recovering from a hand injury.... <br>This month's 'Last Fridays' concert gives us the opportunity to celebrate, albeit belatedly, this man's single - and singular - string quartet offering. <br>Please come join us. <br>www.Liebesfreud.org/calendar.html</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924612014-01-17T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00Schubert Anniversary
<p>Philadelphia favorite, cellist Vivian Barton, joins Liebesfreud (again!) to help us celebrate this Schubert anniversary with that master's sublime C major Quintet. <br>The ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS (AVA) has graciously offered to host this special - and our 60th! - free "Last Fridays" concert. <br>To our loyal Art Alliance audience: AVA is just a 5 minute walk up Spruce Street (at 1920). <br>(The program will begin at 5:45 to allow time for those who haven't seen this update.) <br>The concert will be over before 7:00.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924602013-11-25T19:00:00-05:002022-02-09T11:52:13-05:00Last "Last Friday" for 2013
<p>Liebesfreud begs your indulgence: November's program has changed due to a hand injury of our violist.</p>
<p>The new program will begin with Mozart and Borodin; Beethoven is still represented, although by his G major String Trio. The Verdi will be rescheduled for early 2014. </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924592013-09-22T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00Art Alliance Season Opener
<p>In 1994, President Bill Clinton issued a <a style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=49006#axzz1V9TNhwEm" data-imported="1">proclamation</a> urging all Americans to observe September as Classical Music Month. Intoned Mr. Clinton: “In the symphony halls of our great cities across America, in the community centers of our small towns, on radio and in recordings, a note is played that began centuries ago and resounds to this day. At the heart of classical music is continuity and tradition.”</p>
<p>Please come celebrate "Classical Music Month" with Liebesfreud.</p>
<p>5:30 - 6:30 p.m. this Friday, September 27.<br>The Philadelphia Art Alliance on Rittenhouse Square. <br>Schubert. </p>
<p>Admission: Free</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924582013-08-26T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:002013-14 Season
<p>Liebesfreud's 9th season opens in a month with Schubert's last great String Quartet. Open rehearsals - ideal opportunities for the chamber music lover - resume in October. In November we offer homage to Verdi in this 200th anniversary year of his birth. December, of course, brings our annual Beethoven's Birthday concert (2013 is our 11th). 2014 kicks off with a capstone to our 2013 Schubertiade: the universally loved Cello Quintet- and on Schubert's birthday, January 31, at that! <br>All programs are on the month's "Last Friday" and at the Art Alliance, except December's, once again at Trinity Center for Urban Life, on December 13th.<br>Please see the calendar page for details as they become available. </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924572013-04-29T20:00:00-04:002022-04-27T09:33:09-04:00"Death and the Maiden"
<p>n.b. Next month's "Last Fridays" concert is on the Last Saturday! - May 25th -</p>
<p>The second in Liebesfreud's four concert series of the important works for string quartet highlights the quartet known as "Death and the Maiden". Arguably the most widely known of his works in the genre, it takes its name from a song of the same name which Schubert wrote several years earlier:</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;"><em>The Maiden</em>:</p>
<dl style="margin-top: 0.2em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;">Oh! leave me! Prithee, leave me! thou grisly man of bone!</dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;">For life is sweet, is pleasant.</dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;">Go! leave me now alone!</dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;">Go! leave me now alone!</dd>
</dl>
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;"><em>Death</em>:</p>
<p> </p>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;">Give me thy hand, oh! maiden fair to see,</dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;">For I'm a friend, hath ne'er distress'd thee.</dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;">Take courage now, and very soon</dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;">Within mine arms shalt softly rest thee!"</dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;"><br></dd>
<p>The song's theme forms the basis for the second movement of the quartet, but there is truly much more here. Around this famous middle movement Schubert has created a masterpiece which is worthy of hearing- and studying for performance- many times during the course of one's thoughtful musical life.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924562013-02-28T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00March 29 Concert
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #000000;">Our March "Last Fridays" concert is Friday, March 29, 5:30–6:30 pm at the <a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://listbabyqa.hostbaby.com/ln/?c=4097765&l=327007&k=61f0be07ab29af669863682f05e1a967" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Philadelphia Art Alliance</a>. This concert begins a survey of the great Schubert string quartets with the A minor String Quartet D. 804, the "Rosamunde" quartet.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #000000;">If you attended February's open rehearsal, this is the quartet we were working on--and you'll no doubt be eager to hear a complete performance. (By the way, a bit of pop culture trivia: this quartet was used in the 2012 film "The Avengers.")</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #000000;">We will open the program with three of Dvorak's "Cypresses," originally written as love songs for voice and piano, arranged by the composer for string quartet.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924552013-01-31T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00February Open Rehearsal
<p>This season Liebesfreud is replacing some of our usual ‘Last Fridays’ concerts with open rehearsals. The next of these takes place Friday, February 22 at noon at our usual venue, the Art Alliance.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We will be rehearsing Schubert's glorious Quartet in A Minor, which was supposed to have been part of our January program but fell victim to the snowstorm.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Why would you want to come to a rehearsal? Geoffrey Michaels steps out of character and drops his customary modesty to explain: </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We have terrific rehearsals! I’ve been around musicians for more years than I care to count, and I can state unequivocally that Liebesfreud’s way of working on music is characterized by a seriousness and idealism that I have rarely encountered. Of course, we tend to split too many hairs and tell too many anecdotes (as well as some truly terrible jokes), but the desire to make sense of the music, and to make that sense vivid to others, is never corrupted by ego-driven irrelevancies. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We think the process is in itself valuable and interesting, so you might find that an hour at the Art Alliance on Friday would not be a complete waste of time.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924542013-01-10T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00Our Eighth Season Kicks Off
<p>2012 was a wonderful year for Liebesfreud. <br>We closed out a survey of the ten "Celebrated" quartets of Mozart, celebrated our 50th "Last Fridays" program and completed our first "Beethoven Cycle".<br>In the process, regrettably, we ignored (just for the year) two pillars of the quartet literature - a neglect we now begin to rectify with the first concert of our "Last Fridays" series' eighth year. <br>Haydn and Schubert: please accept our humblest apologies. <br><br>Music lovers: Please join us January 25th to hear what we've all been missing!<br>As always, admission is free.<br>(Please see the 'calendar' page.)</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924532012-11-30T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:0010th ANNUAL BEETHOVEN’S BIRTHDAY CONCERT TO BENEFIT “WINTERSHELTER” PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS MEN
<p>On Sunday, December 16 at 6:00 pm, we will celebrate Beethoven’s birthday by <br>performing our tenth annual benefit concert for the Community Outreach Partnership.<br> The concert takes place at Trinity Memorial Church, 22nd and Spruce Streets.<br> A wine and cheese reception for the audience and musicians will follow.</p>
<p>Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. Donors who make a gift<br>of $50 or more to Wintershelter prior to the concert will automatically<br>receive complimentary admission. Donations can be made online at<br>www.communityoutreachpartnership.org/donate, or at the office: Community<br>Outreach Partnership Office, 2212 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. For more<br>information or to donate by phone call 215-732-2515.</p>
<p>Wintershelter is a Philadelphia-based program to accommodate and feed<br>homeless men. Other programs of the Community Outreach Partnership include<br>Communicare, an elder visitation program; Cook-off, a meal program for<br>home-bound persons; Greens-on-the-Go, a Center City Community Supported<br>Agriculture program ; and Sustainable 19103, a lecture series on urban<br>sustainability.</p>
<p>Liebesfreud is an ensemble devoted primarily to the performance of great<br>literature for the string quartet. The group takes its name, which means<br>Love’s Joy, from the title of a heartfelt piece by beloved violinist Fritz<br>Kreisler. The main focus of Liebesfreud’s work is the heart of the<br>classical repertoire, as exemplified by the quartet’s programs of Haydn,<br>Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert at the Kimmel Center (“Free in the Plaza”<br>series), the Philadelphia Art Alliance (“Last Fridays” series) and, since<br>2003, the annual Beethoven’s Birthday celebrations at Trinity.</p>
<p>As Mr. Forbes will be on another continent on December 16,<br> we are profoundly grateful and honored that<br> Hai-Ye Ni, principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra,<br> will join us in this performance of Beethoven’s great Opus 130 quartet.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924522012-11-15T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00Beethoven's Birthday Just Around the Corner
<p>A month until the big day - our 10th Annual Beethoven's Birthday Bash. As always, all monies raised go to Trinity Center's CORP [Community Outreach Partnership] which benefits Philadelphia's homeless through its Wintershelter program. <br>This year we are delighted to welcome a guest who is no stranger to Philadelphia music lovers: Hai-Ye Ni, the Philadelphia Orchestra's Principal Cellist will join us in Beethoven's great op. 130 quartet. You come and join us too!<br>(... and if you live in Center City, it really IS just around the corner: at 22nd & Spruce!)<br>~ Please see our 'Calendar' page ~ </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924512012-10-31T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:16-05:00Fabulous 50
<p>What a pleasure to collaborate once again with consummate artist Ricardo Morales for our 50th "Last Fridays" program! Thanks to Ricardo, our loyal audience and to the anonymous longtime fan who underwrote rental expenses for the Kimmel Center's stunning Dorrance H. Hamilton Garden for this celebratory concert.</p>
<p>Beethoven's Birthday is December 16th - put it on your calendar.<br>(... please see our 'calendar' page) </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924502012-10-09T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00Fiftieth "Last Friday"
<p>Liebesfreud will be on top of the world this "Last Friday" when we ascend to the Roof Garden of the Kimmel Center for what promises to be a most memorable concert. We've been looking forward to this since first we had the pleasure of Ricardo Morales's collaborative artistry in Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in 2006 (on Mozart's 250th Birthday).<br>This time it's the Clarinet Quintet of Brahms, a late work and a supreme masterpiece in the chamber music literature.<br>Opening this one-hour program will be two short but stunning String Quartet works, also written toward the end of their composers' all-too-short lives.</p>
<p>Liebesfreud quartet members and all guest artists offer their services without fee so that, since the beginning of 2006, all concerts in this "Last Fridays" Series have been open to the public with absolutely no admission charge. Some members of our audience do contribute to a "Hall Rental Fund" (which helps defray such costs) and to those kind and loyal music lovers we extend our sincere thanks and appreciation. </p>
<p>For more details on this upcoming 50th Celebration Concert, please see this website's 'Calendar' page.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924492012-09-30T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00Taking Stock
<p>Liebesfreud's 50th Free "Last Fridays" concert approaches; but first, we pause to acknowledge - and THANK - the many fine artists and FRIENDS who have so graciously joined us over these last 80 months.</p>
<p>2006<br>Ricardo Morales, Mozart Clarinet Quintet <br>Harold Robinson, Dvorak Bass Quintet <br>Jennifer Montone, Mozart Horn Quintet K. 407<br>2007<br>Vivian Barton-Dozor, Schubert Cello Quintet<br>Clipper Erickson, Luigi Mazzocchi, Brahms Piano Quintet<br>Efe Baltacigil, Vivian Barton-Dozor, Schubert Cello Quintet<br>Alison Avery, Mozart Viola Quintet K. 593<br>Michal Schmidt, Elgar Violin & Piano Sonata op. 82<br>2008<br>Miles Davis, Dvorak Bass Quintet<br>Hugh Sung, Kreisler pieces<br>Sam Caviezel, Brahms Clarinet Quintet<br>2009<br>Mari-Liis Pakk, Noah Luft-Weissburg, Heather Wright, Regina Golovina, Mendelssohn Octet<br>Ana Tzinadze, Dane Anderson, Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence<br>Renard Edwards, Mendelssohn Viola Quintet op. 87<br>2010<br>Vivian Barton-Dozor, Arensky Quartet op. 35<br>Dara Morales, Jesus Morales, Brahms Sextet op. 18<br>Hugh Sung, music of Clara & Robert Schumann<br>2011<br>Christoph Eschenbach, Dvorak Piano Quintet</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924472012-08-31T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00Liebesfreud Begins 8th Season of Free Chamber Music Programs
<p>Liebesfreud kicks off its eighth season of free programs by wrapping up our survey of the "Ten Celebrated" string quartets of Mozart. Beginning in October, 2011, we have been exploring these masterpieces with our audiences both in performance and in open rehearsal. This program, the 49th in our "Last Fridays" series, offers the final two string quartets Mozart wrote: K. 589 in B flat major and K. 590 in F major.</p>
<p>Stay tuned for the exciting announcement of our 50th program with guest, Ricardo Morales, illustrious Principal Clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra, performing Brahms' mature masterpiece, the "Clarinet Quintet".</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924482012-04-16T20:00:00-04:002021-04-15T06:28:01-04:00Our thoughts turn now to ... Mozart!
<p>With the tax deadline now behind us, we can put our energies into discovering more of the delights and genius of Mozart's most inspired chamber music. Come sit in as Liebesfreud explores two more of W.A.'s "Celebrated Quartets". April's "Last Friday" open rehearsal ... please see the 'Calendar' page of this site, and ... Join us!</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924452012-02-24T19:00:00-05:002020-11-07T06:46:20-05:00The Haydn-Mozart Connection
<p>In honor of Haydn's 280th birthday, and in continuation of Liebesfreud's year-long survey of Mozart's "Ten Celebrated" String Quartets, offered are the final two in the set of six quartets the junior Austrian genius wrote for, and dedicated to, the senior:</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;">Mozart’s published dedication page (Sept. 1, 1785 - original in Italian!):</p>
<dl style="margin-top: 0.2em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em;">To my dear friend Haydn,</dd></dl>
<dl style="margin-top: 0.2em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em;">A father who had resolved to send his children out into the great world took it to be his duty to confide them to the protection and guidance of a very celebrated Man, especially when the latter by good fortune was at the same time his best Friend. Here they are then, O great Man and dearest Friend, these six children of mine. </dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em;">They are, it is true, the fruit of a long and laborious endeavor, yet the hope inspired in me by several Friends that it may be at least partly compensated encourages me, and I flatter myself that this offspring will serve to afford me solace one day. You, yourself, dearest friend, told me of your satisfaction with them during your last Visit to this Capital. It is this indulgence above all which urges me to commend them to you and encourages me to hope that they will not seem to you altogether unworthy of your favour. </dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em;">May it therefore please you to receive them kindly and to be their Father, Guide and Friend! From this moment I resign to you all my rights in them, begging you however to look indulgently upon the defects which the partiality of a Father’s eye may have concealed from me, and in spite of them to continue in your generous Friendship for him who so greatly values it, in expectation of which I am, with all of my Heart, my dearest Friend, your most Sincere Friend,</dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"> W. A. Mozart</dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><br></dd>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em;">"Last Fridays" series: March 30th, 5:30 p.m. (details on 'Calendar' page)</dd>
</dl>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924462012-02-01T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00Take Two
<p>Two Beethoven Quartets. One early, one late. </p>
<p>If you missed Liebesfreud's Annual Beethoven's Birthday concert, take this opportunity! Join us at the Art Alliance for the next program -the 46th!- in our "Last Fridays" series. Details on the 'Calendar' page.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924442012-01-23T19:00:00-05:002022-05-26T07:05:05-04:00Mozart's Birthday!
<p>Thanks to Schroeder, of <em>Peanuts </em>comic strip fame, Beethoven's birthday gets a lot of attention, but most years Mozart's birthday goes unnoticed. Liebesfreud will make sure that doesn't happen this January 27 — our Last Fridays concert this month features two of Mozart's quartets (from a set of six) dedicated to Haydn:</p>
<ul>
<li>Quartet in B flat major K 458 "The Hunt"</li>
<li>Quartet in E flat major K 428</li>
</ul>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924412011-11-15T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:009th Annual Beethoven's Birthday Concert
<p>December 18th / 5:00 p.m. Liebesfreud has completed the "Beethoven Cycle" and embarks upon another journey through this hallowed ground of the String Quartet canon. This year's pairing will center around the sunny key of A with an early quartet, op. 18 no. 5 and one of the giants of the chamber music solar system, op. 132.</p>
<p>As usual, the performance is the Sunday closest to Mr. Beethoven's birthday and again raises monies - and consciousness - for "Wintershelter", a program of Community OutReach Partnership, a non-sectarian volunteer group that provides direct help to the homeless, hungry, elderly, lonely, or otherwise needy in the city of Philadelphia.</p>
<p>Incidentally, next year (2012) will be our 10th Annual Celebration and Beethoven's Birthday, December 16th, falls on a Sunday - How perfect is that?! So mark your calendars now :>) See the 'Calendar' page for all you need to know and Please Join Us!</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924432011-11-10T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00Home For Thanksgiving
<p><strong>Come hear Christoph Eschenbach!</strong></p>
<p>On Friday, November 25, our friend, sensitive, ruminant, illustrious pianist and maestro will be joining Liebesfreud in Dvorak's glowing A major Piano Quintet. Don't miss it! This is a free "Last Fridays" concert at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, 5:45 pm.</p>
<p>Please see our 'Calendar' page for program details.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">photo by Eric Brissaud</p>
<hr>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/431410/700e686e9a4fc0a79703acff15db43d42175915f/original/ce-img-2829-eric-brissaud-resized.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAweDYwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="photo by Eric Brissaud" height="600" width="400" /></p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924422011-09-30T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00Our 7th season!
<p>This season begins with a survey of the "Ten Celebrated" String Quartets of Mozart. Over the course of the next 12 months, we will offer 5 pairs of these masterworks, in chronological order. We begin - October 27th - with K. 387 in G major & K. 421 in D minor. November [25th] will bring an as yet undecided (but guaranteed to be memorable!) masterwork....</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924402011-05-12T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00See you in the Autumn.
<p>Thanks to all our loyal listeners for a memorable spring.
Wishing you all a beautiful summer.
Sincerely,
~ Liebesfreud
:>)
p.s. all-Mozart in October</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924392011-05-05T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00May 13 Concert
<p>Our concert at the Philadelphia Art Alliance on May 13 is part of our "Last Fridays" series, even though it's not the last Friday of the month. That means that it starts at 5:30, and admission is free.
Also characteristic of the series is the format: about an hour of delightful chamber music. Featured this month are quartets by Haydn (Op. 42 in D minor) and Brahms (Op. 51, No. 2, in A minor).
We hope you can join us!</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924382011-03-21T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00March 25 Concert
<p>The featured work on this month's "Last Fridays" concert is Elgar's String Quartet in E minor, one of Elgar's last compositions and one of his few chamber works.
Geoffrey Michaels and Phil Kates will open the program with a nod to Bartok on the anniversary of his birth: Selected Violin Duos.
Philadelphia Art Alliance
5:30 p.m.
Price: FREE
Support for this program generously donated by Barbara Kates
in honor of her dear husband, Henry, on the occasion of his 97th birthday</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924372011-02-19T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00February 25 Program
<p>This Friday Liebesfreud musicians Geoffrey Michaels, Philip Kates, and Charles Forbes will be playing "musical chairs" in a program of two string duos (violin and viola) and a string trio (violin, viola, and cello).
Beethoven—String Trio in C minor, Op. 9 No. 3
Mozart—Duo in B flat major, K. 424
Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia for Violin and Viola
A free "Last Fridays" concert
February 25 at 5:30 pm
Philadelphia Art Alliance
251 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924362010-12-31T19:00:00-05:002022-05-26T06:38:04-04:00Liebesfreud 5th Year of Free Concerts Begins
<p>Five years ago Liebesfreud instituted what has become the only public free chamber music series in Philadelphia.
Concerts are open to all, no tickets required.
39 concerts and counting.
February 25th program to feature Schubert String Trio in B flat major.
Details on calendar page.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924352010-12-18T19:00:00-05:002020-09-10T05:09:07-04:00Beethoven's Birthday Concert
<p>Our 8th! annual Beethoven's Birthday concert is Sunday, December 19 at 5:15 pm, at Trinity Memorial Church, 2212 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Music by Beethoven, of course:
String Quartet in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2
String Quartet in C# minor, Op. 131
As in previous years, this concert is a benefit for Community OutReach Partnership, a non-sectarian volunteer group that provides direct help to the homeless, hungry, elderly, lonely, or otherwise needy in the city of Philadelphia.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924342010-10-26T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00October 29
<p>Liebesfreud celebrates the 200th anniversary of Robert Schumann's birth with a performance of his Quartet in F Major, Opus 41, No. 2. Also on the program is the Dvorak Terzetto, Opus 74.
Our free "Last Fridays" concerts are held at the Art Alliance at 5:30 pm.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924332010-09-20T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00September 24 Concert
<p>Liebesfreud opens a new season of free "Last Fridays" concerts at the Philadelphia Art Alliance on September 24 at 5:30. Our program features two of the great classical string quartets, Beethoven's Opus 18, No. 2 and Haydn's Opus 76, No. 1.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924322010-05-21T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00Liebesfreud (plus 2) on May 28
<p>This month Liebesfreud's "Last Fridays" series of free concerts returns to the Philadelphia Art Alliance. The Liebesfreud Quartet will be joined by violinist Dara Morales (of the Philadelphia Orchestra) and cellist Jesus Morales for a performance of the Brahms Sextet op. 18 in Bb major.
Also on the program are two works for string quartet, a Fugue in F minor by Grieg and the delightful Italian Serenade by Hugo Wolf.
Friday, May 28, 5:30 pm
Philadelphia Art Alliance
251 South 18th Street
(southeast corner of Rittenhouse Square)</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924312010-05-04T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:15-05:00Phil Kates revisits China
<p>An article in today's Philadelphia Inquirer: </p>
<p>http://jianmei.tumblr.com/post/575506220/philadelphia-orchestra-musicians-in-china</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924302008-06-08T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:14-05:00Trip to China Earthquake Region
<p>by Philip Kates</p>
<p>June 4 - 5, 2008, Chengdu, Sichuan, China</p>
<p>First, I must say, the beautiful spirit of the Sichuan people was so moving, even in the wake - indeed the midst - of their terrible disaster. I have never had the privilege to meet a more compassionate, warm and caring people. Also, without the sincere help and guidance of Wu Zhuo Ling (Julie), my interpreter here, most or all of my good intentions would likely have been fruitless. She dedicated herself completely to seeing that I was able to touch the lives of as many as I did. It started with a desire - as people all over the world have felt, and acted upon - to make some small difference in even a few lives here. Of course, in a way, the primary and overwhelming need is for food, clean water, secure shelter and a real reason to hope - to believe - that life will again be normal. But in another way, I learned - or rather had my conviction affirmed - that an equally vital human need is to know that others care.</p>
<p>Upon hearing of the devastating "Wenchuan" Earthquake, I began to think if there was anything I could do, personally, for those living through the disaster. My work with the Philadelphia Orchestra would bring me near to the "area" 3 - 4 weeks after the first awesome shock. I say first because there continued to be several significant aftershocks which also had shattering effects, both physically and psychologically. We (the Orchestra) would be arriving in China on June 1st with concerts in Beijing on the 2nd & 3rd; the 4th was a day off (and most of the 5th) so I knew my window for a visit, if there was to be one. If there was to be one...</p>
<p>I have brought my violin to play for children in many schools around the world during my 27 years of touring with the Philadelphia Orchestra, but of what possible use could a violin player be to children suffering from the end of their world? To seek to impose myself on these vulnerable people who were struggling in ways I could not begin to comprehend - what a selfish and egotistical thought! Our first tour concert was in Japan on May 23rd, just 11 days after the quake, and I began to solicit opinions from people in the tour group: Was this a stupid, naive idea? Was it dangerous, crazy or worst of all, callously self-centered? I began to realize a sound decision really couldn't be made until we actually arrived in China - conditions in the quake areas were changing daily and the last thing I wanted was to be a nuisance or inconvenience to those with so many real troubles or the legions of people bringing legitimate help.</p>
<p>When we arrived in Beijing on June 1st I started making inquiries. (I had already checked into flights while back in the U.S.) A reporter who had heard of my prospective plans sought me out. Jennifer Lin, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, had just returned from the quake region. She thought the time could be ripe for a good will type visit (especially with music): The major aftershocks had probably passed, the Chinese government had acted quickly to get temporary housing and support systems in place and people (many, at least) were starting to settle into a routine, basic as it was. This was all the encouragement I needed. I was introduced to a thoughtful and gentle young man, Ted, originally from Ohio, but now living in Beijing. He was hired to be interpreter for the Orchestra during our visit. Ted's best friend - it just so happened! - lived in Chengdu (where my flight would arrive) and he was sure, if available, she would be pleased to serve as interpreter for me. (It turned out she was far more than that, facilitating practically every detail of my time in Sichuan.) Soon thereafter, I was introduced (by Steve Millen, Orchestra V.P. & Manager of Operations, who also coordinated the Philadelphia Orchestra's own Earthquake Relief initiative - resulting in substantial corporate contributions for the building of earthquake-proof schools) to Ning Shao and Jim Curtis. Both are associated with Pennsylvania's cooperative effort with China for exchange of commerce and now, especially, building safe schools in China - a project for which Orchestra musicians themselves contributed $5000.</p>
<p>(Not so incidentally, Pennsylvania government officials were a huge help in facilitating the donation of gifts and medicines in conjunction with a 1999 Orchestra musicians' visit to an orphanage and school in Viet Nam! - but that's another story....)</p>
<p>I learned from these gentlemen that their organization had, just days earlier, built a temporary school in Mianzhu, a badly damaged area, and they could arrange a visit there if I liked! Contact was made with a volunteer, Li Li, at the school and it was set. When I arrived at the airport in Chengdu, I would need a car and driver as the village school was about 2 hours drive north of the city. I spoke with Julie who would set it up. However, the day before I was to leave, Julie phoned to say that a friend of hers had been several times to this area and wanted to return to help the relief effort so hiring a car (and driver of unknown credentials) would not be necessary. (This turned out to be a fortuitous development.) The day before the trip, Ted arranged for purchase and delivery of my airline tickets (to Chengdu and then, next day, to Guangzhou, the city of the Orchestra's June 6th concert). Then we set out shopping to get gifts (colored pencils, crayons, modeling clay and assorted sweets) for up to 200 children.</p>
<p>That night, at our final Beijing concert, Lang Lang, illustrious Philadelphia-trained, Chinese soloist for our China concerts - who each night had offered a painfully beautiful encore "dedicated to the victims of the Earthquake" - signed a photo for the children of this "Project Hope" school and also wrote a personal message for them.</p>
<p>June 4th</p>
<p>Upon arrival at Chengdu airport (a 2 1/2 hour flight from Beijing) just before noon, I am met by Julie and her friend, Mi. They seem genuinely to be looking forward to setting off, although with a certain sense of sober responsibility, which I feel as well. They think nothing of the 2-hour journey. Mi drives a substantial Jeep and her driving skills (I will learn) range between seriously competent and virtuosic. It was a brilliant stroke of luck she was willing and available, first, because any normal car would have been crippled by the terrain we would encounter and second, any mercenary driver would surely have balked at even attempting to put his vehicle through the tortuous "roads" which, unbeknownst to me, lay ahead. Also very fortunate - Mi had already made several relief trips on her own to this area and so had a government issued placard which allowed the vehicle on the roads we would need to travel.</p>
<p>At a certain point it seemed obvious we would be perhaps a half hour late. (The school visit was planned for 3 - 5 p.m.) Julie phoned Li Li. He said, even though we had been instructed to stop first at the City Hall, now doubling as Earthquake Relief Administration Office, we should come directly to the school. Mi therefore took a "short cut" which at the time seemed (to me) to be a big error in judgment: The "road" went for miles of hard-packed, hilly dirt, rocks and, worryingly, even a small, muddy river to traverse - more like an ATV course than a road. When we finally arrived at the school, we found what an important and good decision this detour had been: Just a few hours earlier, the city government had decided to prohibit entry to all foreigners to the Mianzhu area! (It seems that foreign reporters had become increasingly intrusive into the lives of victims and the stress was becoming too much on these villagers.) At first Li Li was reluctant to let me meet the children, but our sincere concern and patience helped him see our intentions to be rooted in friendship. Surprisingly, in anticipation of my arrival, the headmaster (principal) of the school had dismissed all the students early! He had said it was too hot (and it was!) for them to be inside... Maybe this was his way of honoring the new directive...</p>
<p>Anyway, Li Li got word out to the people in the village and we set out for a pastoral spot amid bamboo stands and rice paddies. I don't know how Mi managed to keep the massive Jeep from dipping off the narrow strip between the rice fields - I was holding my breath. We left the car in a shaded area and walked the final 500 meters or so to where the children were gathering. There were about 20 by a small oblong, terraced, stone swimming pool. Some were splashing and playing - as children should. Others were expectantly waiting for the music. We all found a cool(-ish) place among the bamboo stalks. Julie introduced me and the children seemed very proud - as if they must be quite important to get a visit from a musician from a big American orchestra that had just performed in Beijing the night before! Now the concert could begin.</p>
<p>The music consisted of short pieces which my father had taught me when I was about their age (6 - 12 years old): Bach, Weber, Beethoven, Gossec, Wieniawski, Kreisler and one of my dad's own compositions titled, "The Bird". (It fit very nicely in this open air "program".) More important than the music though, yet inextricably linked to it, was the human contact - the connection I could make with these beautiful, young people who were undoubtedly struggling to come to grips with what their lives had become - what there lives might not become.</p>
<p>After a warm reception for the musical fun, the children followed us back to the Jeep where they sweetly lined up and each graciously and delightedly received candies, cakes and books (which Julie & Mi brought). To Li Li I gave the before-mentioned school supplies and Lang Lang's photo and message. I also presented him with a set of Orchestra CDs and our acclaimed DVD, "Music From The Inside Out" for their future school's library. We were then led on a "tour" of some of the destruction. Not gaping cracks or monstrous upheavals of earth as I had imagined (and dreaded) seeing, but soberingly terrible visions nonetheless. We have all seen the horrible images in newspapers, on TVs and computer screens - there is no need for me to try to describe here with my inadequate words. ... a collapsed school, of course, garden walls, remnants of houses... but the one sight especially memorable because of the personal connection I now have made - a house which a man had only finished building a month earlier: rubble. His wife was asleep upstairs when the quake hit; somehow she managed to get clear before she would have been crushed. All in her immediate family survived. Of the 2900 people living in their village on May 11th, 1000 are no more.</p>
<p>On the way back to the car, we were shown where this family was living now - nine of them, including grandmother and cousins, in a makeshift shelter (so many of which clutter the rural landscape): a good tarpaulin covering, some quasi-protection from wind and rain on the sides, some flimsy bedding materials and not much else. There were smiles though: The family members clearly were concerned they would still be in this fragile "home" come winter, but just as clearly grateful they were all together, alive. We chose the paved route back to Chengdu.</p>
<p>After about ten minutes' driving away from the village on dirt roads, we would have a less battering ride to the city. It was now past 6:00, but Mi and Julie knew I would still like to play in one more place today, if possible. Right by the Relief Office (which we had bypassed on the way) was a "tent city" the likes of which I couldn't have envisioned. Its orderly set-up reminded me of a military barracks, but it definitely was not at all like that socially. There was a very friendly, community feel - and, it was much larger. I don't know how many large tents - a thousand, two thousand - most with less than a meter of space between them. There were also "specialty" tents set up for cooking, distribution of water (by pail), toilet facilities and even a tent for hair-cutting. There were many children playing together, spiritedly in the dirt - only the old people seemed like lost souls, out of a twilight zone, wandering as if they imagined this is how life, for them, would end.</p>
<p>Julie and Mi scouted around and found a tent set up to be a schoolhouse. They got permission for me to play and a teacher put word out that a musician - an American - had come to visit them. It was dinnertime and only a couple dozen were there when I began, but the "odd" sounds coaxed curious passersby. This impromptu stop turned into another exceedingly meaningful visit and when the music was over, the children clamored for autographs and photos. Julie and Mi lingered to talk with the teacher about ways they could help when they returned in the near future.</p>
<p>Now 8:00 and dark out, the day felt long enough. (For me, travel had begun in Beijing at 7 a.m. - I wouldn't be to my Chengdu hotel until 11 p.m.) I had told Julie of a hospital in the city I wanted to visit on the next day - she would arrange it - tomorrow would be here soon.</p>
<p>June 5th</p>
<p>Actually, she hadn't arranged a visit - Julie just "knew" that it would be OK! At a little past noon, we arrived at the Hua Xi Hospital and went right to a pediatric floor. (Children on this floor were all here with quake-related injuries - and again, I prefer not to describe.... some of these children were from the village I'd visited the day before.) Julie walked into one room and asked parents if they'd like some violin music. The response was puzzled, but enthusiastic. -</p>
<p>And so it went... for the next 2 hours we went from room to room, about 10 minutes in each. Wards had from 4 to 8 children. And the most wonderful thing - although something I've confidently come to expect - regardless of her physical or emotional condition (and some were glum or rightfully angry at the state of their lives) - each child had a smile on her face before I left the room. Especially moving for me, perhaps in a way only a parent can appreciate, were the tears in some mothers' and fathers' eyes as they glimpsed a now rare lightheartedness and glee in their children's faces. Any doubt I may have had as to the value of my making this trip evaporated at such moments.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>For decades, the Philadelphia Orchestra has been known as an international ambassador - in fact helping to open up relations between China and the West with its historic 1973 visit here. And my father had always told me that, professionally, membership in this fabulous organization would open doors all over the world - I just never imagined that would mean such personally satisfying possibilities. When I was in Mianzhu, the father whose "home" I visited asked, "In Beijing, do they think about us or only about the Olympics?"... I didn't know how to respond - only to say that I knew when Lang Lang played that encore, everyone in the entire concert hall was thinking of him and his family - and nothing else. When I left Mianzhu, I was presented with a gift. It will always be one of my most treasured possessions, but only as a symbol of the love I felt that day and the small good I know I accomplished. It is a bright green t-shirt which, in Chinese, says simply, "We are together - Wenchuan Earthquake - Volunteer". </p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924292007-11-06T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:14-05:00Something To "Harp" About
<p>Liebesfreud looks forward to its 5th annual Beethoven's Birthday observance.
This year's main course is the op. 74 "Harp" quartet with an appetizer of op. 18 #2.
["Dessert": As always, a wine & cheese reception with the musicians!]
While many of Liebesfreud's concerts - most notable the "Last Fridays" - are FREE!
this program's $10 admission charge benefits, 100%, "Wintershelter" a program of the Trinity Center for Urban Life.
Concert time: 5:00 p.m. Beethoven's Birthday! (Sunday, December 16th)</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924282007-10-28T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00Summary of Free Concerts 2006 & 2007
<p>January 2006 ["Last Fridays" - Broad Street Ministry]
Guest artist Ricardo Morales, Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Clarinet
All Mozart - 250th Birthday! -Program.
String Quartet in G major (dedicated to Haydn) K. 387,
Clarinet Quintet in A major K. 581, and "Ave Verum Corpus" K. 618
Location: Chambers-Wylie Church
323 S. Broad St. (across from the Kimmel Center)
" 'N Zehn", a University of the Arts vocal ensemble under the direction of Jeff Kern, has graciously agreed to join us in the "Ave Verum Corpus".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 2006 [LF - BSM]
Geoffrey Michaels and Philip Kates offer a one-hour recital.
Both Mozart violin/viola duos!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 2006 [LF - BSM]
Grieg: Fugue in F minor
Haydn: op.77 #2 in F major
Wolf: Italian Serenade
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 2006 [LF - BSM]
Schubert Quartet in C minor, D 703
Beethoven Quartet in Fmajor, opus 135
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May 2006 [LF - Ethical Society]
Beethoven Quartet, op. 18 #3 in D major
Rachmaninoff Romance and Scherzo
Rimsky-Korsakov Allegro from "The Fridays"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 2006 [LF - Bryn Mawr College]
Strings International Music Camp Scholarship Fund Benefit:
Late Night - Late Beethoven!
Program to include the String Quartet, op. 135 and Dvorak's Bass Quintet with guest, Harold Robinson, Principal Bass, The Philadelphia Orchestra.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2006 [LF - ES]
Jennifer Montone, Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Horn, joins for
Mozart's Quintet for Horn and Strings, K. 407.
Program also includes Shostakovich String Quartet #6 in G major
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2006 [LF - ES]
A special "Thanksgiving" program of music by
Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Kates and Beethoven
(includes "Hymn of Thanksgiving..." from Beethoven Quartet, op. 132)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 2006 [Beethoven's Birthday - Trinity Center for Urban Life]
4th Annual Beethoven's Birthday Celebration:
String Quartet op. 18 #5 in A major
String Quartet op. 132 in A minor
* Benefit: 100% of donations go to "WINTERSHELTER",
Trinity Center program of 'CORP'
to accommodate and feed homeless men.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 2007 [LF - ES]
All-Schubert
Quartet Satz (in C minor)
The Glorious Cello Quintet with guest, Vivian Barton Dozor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 2007 [LF - ES]
Bach - selections from the "Art of the Fugue"
Mendelssohn - String Quartet op. 13 in A minor
Ysaye - Trio "Les Londres"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 2007 [LF - ES]
Beethoven Quartet op. 18 #5
Haydn Quartet op. 54 #2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 2007 [LF - Art Alliance]
Hear rarely played works of:
Ernest Bloch (Recollection; Night)
Josef Suk (Meditation) and
Eugene Ysaye (Trio "Le Londres")
(plus a little Mozart!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May 2007 [LF - ES]
Rachmaninoff - Romance and Scherzo
Brahms - Piano Quintet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 2007 [LF* - BMC]
Dvorak "Terzetto"
Schubert "Cello" Quintet
with guests Efe Baltacigil and Vivian Barton Dozor, cellos
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2007 [LF - AA]
Haydn String Quartet op. 76 no.1
Mozart Viola Quintet in D major, K. 593
guest: Alison Avery, viola
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 2007 [LF - AA]
Edward Elgar 150th Anniversary Year
Sonata for Violin and Piano in E minor, op. 82
String Quartet in E minor, op. 83
with guest, Michal Schmidt, piano
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2007 [LF - ES]
Feature work: Mozart "Divertimento" for String Trio in E Flat major, K. 563
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 2007 [BB5 - TCUL]
5th Annual Beethoven's Birthday Concert:
String Quartet op. 18 #2 in G major and
String Quartet op. 74 in E Flat Major (The "Harp")
* Benefit: 100% of donations go to "WINTERSHELTER",
Trinity Center program of 'CORP'
to accommodate and feed homeless men.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924272007-09-30T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00"Last Fridays" 3rd Season of Free Concerts Begins
<p>The auspicious 250th Anniversary of Mozart's birth occasioned the first in a series of free chamber music concerts presented by Liebesfreud. This series - dubbed "Last Fridays" - has so far logged 15 performances: 31 works of 15 different composers with 9 invited guest artists in 4 different Philadelphia area venues.
Public most welcome.
Admission always free!
Information on Calendar page of Liebesfreud website: www.liebesfreud.org</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924262007-01-26T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00"Last Fridays" - 1st Anniversary
<p>January 27th - Mozart's Birthday...
One year ago today Liebesfreud celebrated Mozart's 250th Birthday by inaugurating its "Last Fridays" Concert Series.
So far, there have been nine concerts in that series, with three more scheduled - all FREE to the public.
Also of note... Dana Shukovsky, a senior at Cheltenham High School and staff writer for its newspaper, The Cheltonian, took top honors in our first Trivia Quiz. Dana was the only one with a perfect score! The prize, an $18 Borders gift card, is on its way to her. Congratulations, Dana!
Thanks to all who participated in January's Quiz. The next installment will appear early in February on the 'Music' page of this website.
February's theme - Love and Music...</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924242006-12-17T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00A Happy and Healthy New Year to All
<p>We wish all our fans a happy and healthy new year, filled with "Love's Joy".
Liebesfreud has had a wonderful, musical 2006, beginning with our Mozart's 250th Birthday "Gift to the City" Concert, ending* with our annual Beethoven's Birthday Celebration / Benefit Concert for the Trinity Center's homeless shelter and with many memorable events and fabulous guests in between.
* (not really the end: we play Christmas Day at the Brotherhood Mission.)
We look forward to seeing you all again on January 26th (5:30pm - Ethical Society) for Schubert's Cello Quintet - First FREE "Last Fridays" concert of 2007.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924232006-11-17T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:004th Annual Beethoven's Birthday Bash
<p>Liebesfreud presents its annual tribute to Beethoven. $10 suggested donation to WINTERSHELTER* gets you two string quartets, one early, one late!
6:30 December 15th @ 22nd & Spruce Streets.
*please see Calendar page for details</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924222006-09-30T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00"Last Fridays": Last of 2006 - First of 2007
<p>Liebesfreud wraps up first year of "Last Fridays" concerts. The series, which began on Mozart's 250th Birthday, January 27th, 2006, concludes for 2006 with chamber music of Mendelssohn, Dvorak and Beethoven on November 24th. The 2007 season opens with one of the most beloved of all chamber music miracles - Schubert's Cello Quintet.
Both programs at Philadelphia Ethical Society, and both Free!
In between, on December's middle Friday, the Annual Beethoven's Birthday Celebration! Details for all three on the Calendar Page.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924212006-08-31T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00Come Welcome Jennifer Montone!
<p>Jennifer Montone, The Philadelphia Orchestra's newly appointed Principal Horn, joins us for Mozart's Quintet for Horn and Strings, K. 407. The one-hour program begins at 5:30 pm, Friday, September 29th at The Ethical Society of Philadelphia on Rittenhouse Square ("Last Fridays" Series), opening with the Shostakovich String Quartet #6 in G major, celebrating that iconic master's "100th Birthday".</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924202006-08-17T20:00:00-04:002020-10-05T01:55:54-04:00Orchestra Postlude #2!
<p>Liebesfreud has again been invited to perform following a Philadelphia Orchestra concert in Verizon Hall. This time, in observance of the Shostakovich Centenary.
October 13th, 10 PM!
Please see calendar dates for details.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924252006-05-31T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:001st Annual Chamber Concert and Pajama Party!
<p>Believe it or not, since June's "Last Fridays" concert is transplanted to the Strings International Music Festival (about 200 teenage music students from around the U.S. and the world will attend) with a 10:00 p.m. start time, everyone is encouraged to wear pajamas! Cool door prizes for all who do.
(program details on 'Calendar' page)</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924192006-04-30T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00Liebesfreud To Perform in Orchestra Postlude
<p>Liebesfreud has been invited by Christoph Eschenbach, the Philadelphia Orchestra's Maestro, to perform at a 'Postlude' event in Verizon Hall following the Orchestra's May 17th performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony!
While the Orchestra's concert (at 8:00) is sold out, limited seating (Free Admission!) is available for our 10:00 pm performance of Beethoven's F major Quartet, opus 135. Please email - by May 15th - pk@liebesfreud.org with your requests for seating at this performance (approx. 30 minutes).</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924172006-04-29T20:00:00-04:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00Another Beethoven Quartet
<p>Liebesfreud presents the first of Beethoven's quartet masterpieces. (Although the F major op. 18 #1 and G major op. 18 #2 were published first, the third of the "Opus 18's" was first completed.)
Op. 18 #3 in D major, a Haydn-like beginning for a composer who would revolutionize the genre, is complemented, as last month, by two works from the "Selected Shorts" release. This time the appetizers are Rimsky-Korsakov's single movement work written for a gathering of composer-friends in St. Petersburg, and a very beautiful Romance and Scherzo by the teenage Rachmaninoff.
5:30 pm / Admission: Free.
(please check back for location)</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924182006-04-28T20:00:00-04:002022-03-16T09:55:05-04:00To The Memory Of Craig Williams
<p>Liebesfreud was honored to open yesterday's Memorial Ceremony for Craig Williams, who had been a kind, passionate and knowledgeable guide for tens of thousands of music lovers in his position as usher at Philadelphia's venerable Academy of Music. Craig's devoted tenure spanned a remarkable 50 years and we are all the better for having known him.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924162006-03-31T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00Beethoven's First and Last Quartets
<p>Liebesfreud presents these two quartets, written at opposite ends of the master's compositional life. The last, op. 135, will be offered this month - along with two works from the "Selected Shorts" album, Schubert's late C minor Quartet (in one movement) and Mendelssohn's late - and unfinished - op. 81 Quartet.
This free concert is presented in the Chambers-Wylie Church.
(see calendar page for details)
The earliest of Beethoven's finished quartets - op. 18 #3 in D major - will be offered next month. The balance of the program to be announced at the beginning of May.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924152006-02-28T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00Happy Birthday Haydn!
<p>Liebesfreud's "Last Friday's" series continues with a
celebration of Haydn's birthday - March 31st.
His String Quartet, op. 77 #2 in F major is the program's centerpiece,
flanked by the dynamic, yet little-known! Fugue in F minor of Edvard Grieg
and Hugo Wolf's popular and charming Italian Serenade.
5:30 p.m. at the Chambers-Wylie Cathedral.
Admission: Free
(see also 'Calendar' page)</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924122006-02-16T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00The Celebration Continues
<p>Continuing the observance of Mozart's 250th anniversary year,
Geoffrey Michaels and Philip Kates offer the two Mozart duos for violin and viola.
This concert is the second in Liebesfreud's series, "Last Fridays",
(please scroll down to view 'January 1st' entry)
early evening 1-hour programs on the last Friday of each month.
6 p.m. Friday, February 24th in downtown Philadelphia.
(Please see Calendar page for details).
Admission is free.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924142006-02-13T19:00:00-05:002020-10-01T21:25:57-04:00Beethoven Open Rehearsals Resume
<p>Liebesfreud continues its popular open rehearsal offerings...
Monday, March 20th - morning
Friday, April 7th - evening
$15; $10 students & seniors
(contact pk@liebesfreud.org)</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924112006-02-01T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00This Just In!
<p>Actually 'These' just in... 1050 of them! Liebesfreud's new CD, "Selected Shorts".
Available now in "Applause", the gift shop of Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, and online (click the 'Buy' tab at left). More sales locations to follow...</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924102006-01-26T19:00:00-05:002022-05-18T18:40:51-04:00Happy Birthday, Mozart!
<p>Today's the day. The music world celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! Liebesfreud joins the festivities with two free events. This morning at 9:30 - a live broadcast on WRTI radio (90.1 FM) and this evening at 5:30 with a free one-hour concert in downtown Philadelphia. (please see CALENDAR page for details)</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924092006-01-23T19:00:00-05:002022-04-25T02:45:27-04:00Mozart's 250th - Sneak Pre"view"
<p>Liebesfreud ushers in Mozart's 250th (for those of you rising fashionably late!) at about 9:30 a.m. Friday. Radio station WRTI (90.1 FM) hosts the quartet, joined by the peerless Principal Clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Ricardo Morales, in the exuberant Finale of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet. Catch the whole program at 5:30 Friday evening. (See Calendar page) Admission is free.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924082006-01-17T19:00:00-05:002019-12-16T11:57:13-05:00University of the Arts to Join Mozart Celebration
<p>Liebesfreud's observance of Mozart's 250th birthday just got the perfect ending! (Click on Calendar tab at left.) " 'N Zehn", a vocal ensemble in residence at the University of the Arts, under the direction of Philadelphia's own Jeff Kern, will join Liebesfreud in the exquisite motet, "Ave Verum Corpus". Written in the last few months of Mozart's much-to-brief life, this is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful and perfect pieces in all of music. We sincerely hope you can be with us to hear it on the 27th, but if you can't, make sure to put it on your list of music to hear before departing this good earth.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924062006-01-12T19:00:00-05:002022-03-12T00:12:02-05:00Enter contest to win Liebesfreud's new CD
<p>We're expecting delivery of our first recording, "Selected Shorts", February 2nd. The fine print specified "subject to 5% overrun or underrun".
This means we'll receive 950, 1050 or anything in between.
So... go to "Guestbook" ~ enter: name, e-mail, and in the comment box, the number from 950-1050 you guess will arrive in our first shipment.
(Comments, of course, also welcome!)
Click on "Submit..."
~ 1st Prize ~ Entrant guessing closest to number we receive wins:
~~ a CD and admission for 4 to a Liebesfreud Open Rehearsal
~ Exact match bonus, in honor of Mozart's 250th Birthday (see "Calendar"), the
Everyman's Library - EMI Classics "Music Companions" Mozart book and 3-CD set!
~ 2nd Prize ~ Runner-up wins:
~~ a CD and 2 Open Rehearsal tickets.
Other rules:
~ 1) Anyone may enter, but only once, please
~ 2) Maximum of 101 entrants ~ one per number ~ so browse previous entries
~ 3) If Liebesfreud "family" member wins, other best 2 guesses still win!
~ 4) Come to our concert on January 27th - not required (LOL) but we do hope to see you there ~ see "Calendar" page
~~ Winners posted on February 7, 2006 ~ Good Luck to all! ~~</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924052006-01-07T19:00:00-05:002022-05-17T15:49:41-04:00Liebesfreud's First CD Available "Short"ly
<p>~ Liebesfreud's first recording, titled "Selected Shorts", is scheduled for release at the end of this month.
Selected Shorts - Neglected Gems for String Quartet
Instrumental chamber music probably took shape as an independent, self-sufficient genre late in the 17th century and composers—a hard-headed bunch, as we all know—seem to have adopted, almost immediately, a very practical policy: if you are going to require two or more people to forego the delights of the tavern and Monday Night Football for the more dubious satisfactions which music-making might provide, then you had better give them something substantial to play.
This usually meant a work of several somewhat contrasted movements—four, most often—and the practice remained remarkably constant, from the Baroque “Church Sonata”, through the evolution/revolution of the sonata style (and the concomitant emergence of the String Quartet as the genre’s fundamental medium), and beyond even the aesthetic upheavals of Romanticism and Modernism. Isolated pieces for string quartet are therefore a bit anomalous and, it would seem, awkward to accommodate in concert programs, so that a certain amount of beautiful and distinguished music tends to get lost in the shuffle—hence, this recording.
Think of it as a shelter for homeless quartet movements.
These works are unattached for reasons that are sometimes obvious—Grieg’s was a student exercise, Mendelssohn died—and sometimes unfathomable (as with Schubert’s piece), but each one either represents its composer’s full powers or offers a glimpse of something unfamiliar in his creative persona—sometimes both.
We should add that this collection is far from exhaustive; stay tuned for Selected Shorts—the sequel!
The works included on the recording can be found by clicking on the "Music" tab on this homepage. Program notes were written with humor and eloquence by Liebesfreud violinist, Geoffrey Michaels.</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924132005-12-31T19:00:00-05:002022-02-19T12:01:38-05:00"Last Fridays" Series of Free Concerts Established
<p>Liebesfreud institutes series of free concerts on the "Last Friday" of each month, now through June.
These concerts are a gift to the Philadelphia area music lovers from Liebesfreud's musicians and guest artists. January through April concerts take place in the Chambers-Wylie Church across from the Kimmel Center in downtown Philadelphia and begin at 5:30 p.m.*
May program at Philadelphia Ethical Society at 5:30 p.m.
June concert in the Thomas Great Hall of Bryn Mawr College at 10:00 p.m!
Highlights planned for this first season are on
January 27th - Mozart's Clarinet Quintet
February 24th - Mozart's Two Violin & Viola Duos * (begins at 6:00)
March 31st - Haydn's last String Quartet (op. 77 #2)
April 28th - Beethoven's last String Quartet (op. 135)
May 26th - Beethoven's first String Quartet (op. 18 #3)
June 30th - Dvorak's "Bass" Quintet</p>
Liebesfreudtag:liebesfreud.org,2005:Post/61924072005-12-26T19:00:00-05:002022-04-12T18:24:59-04:00Liebesfreud Lands Ricardo Morales for Mozart
<p>Liebesfreud announces collaboration with Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Clarinet, Ricardo Morales in Mozart's Quintet for Clarinet and Strings K.581.
An all-Mozart program, on January 27, 2006 - the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, opens with the String Quartet in G major K.387.
The concert, at the Chambers-Wylie Cathedral on South Broad Street in Philadelphia, begins at 5:30 pm.
Admission is free.</p>
Liebesfreud