The New York Times called it "A Dark Time in Hungary Remembered", according to Steve Smith's music review on May 3, 2013. Smith's vivid description of the primary thrust of the concert--which was to shed light on lost works by Hungarian composers whose lives and careers were unmoored or ended by the rise of fascism, at home and throughout Europe during World War II. He said: “a structure rooted in Mendelssohn, a penchant for fiery display and a lyricism suited to the stage; Barnabas Kelemen, another Hungarian soloist, met the composer’s demands unflappably, stirring a rousing ovation."
Music lovers in Washington did not have to travel long distances to enjoy stunning performance of world-renowned and exceptionally talented artists, Barnabas Kelemen, Peter Barsony, and Melvin Chen. Instead a short taxi ride to the edge of the Spring of Freedom Street in Northwest Washington brought them in the hospitable Hungarian Embassy.
Like the freedom from the tyranny of the Soviet Communist domination, spring weather freed Washington music lovers from the heavy winter coats. The sun seemed to want to take its time before setting--perhaps it did not want to miss the strokes on the piano or the violin. And, the leaves seemed to sway in joy with every note. Was this the breeze coming from the edge of Rock Creek Park or from Beach Drive or plain chemistry?
Playing the piano, Melvin Chen possessed the necessary elements for pure joy while Kelemen and Barsony made magic with the violin. Chen comes with a doctorate in chemistry from Harvard University and currently serves as Deputy Dean at the Yale School of Music. Together they brought to life the music written by great Hungarian composers: Johannes Brahms, Bela Bartok, and Laszlo Weiner.
The real alchemists however are Jerome Barry and the staff of the Embassy Series who deliver amazing performances from wonderful artists around the world, time and again. In doing so, they unite humanity through musical diplomacy–bringing diplomats like Hungarian Ambassador Gyorgy Szapari and renowned artists plus music lovers together for memorable evenings.
In each performance presented by the Embassy Series, one finds the best of humanity. At the Hungarian Embassy there was a professor of engineering, scientists, and people from all walks of life. And, just recently at the Turkish Embassy the audience included a former congressman, a retired rocket scientist and concert pianist, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission engineer, a senior associate at Center for Strategic and International Studies, and renowned architects and scholars.
The added attraction at the end of these performances is the sumptuous buffets by award winning chefs who came by several times to ensure that there were ample delights on the guests’ plates.
Information about the upcoming performances is available at the Embassy Series website.
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Uniting Humanity through Musical Diplomacy
May 24, 2013
The New York Times called it "A Dark Time in Hungary Remembered", according to Steve Smith's music review on May 3, 2013. Smith's vivid description of the primary thrust of the concert--which was to shed light on lost works by Hungarian composers whose lives and careers were unmoored or ended by the rise of fascism, at home and throughout Europe during World War II. He said: “a structure rooted in Mendelssohn, a penchant for fiery display and a lyricism suited to the stage; Barnabas Kelemen, another Hungarian soloist, met the composer’s demands unflappably, stirring a rousing ovation."
Music lovers in Washington did not have to travel long distances to enjoy stunning performance of world-renowned and exceptionally talented artists, Barnabas Kelemen, Peter Barsony, and Melvin Chen. Instead a short taxi ride to the edge of the Spring of Freedom Street in Northwest Washington brought them in the hospitable Hungarian Embassy.
Like the freedom from the tyranny of the Soviet Communist domination, spring weather freed Washington music lovers from the heavy winter coats. The sun seemed to want to take its time before setting--perhaps it did not want to miss the strokes on the piano or the violin. And, the leaves seemed to sway in joy with every note. Was this the breeze coming from the edge of Rock Creek Park or from Beach Drive or plain chemistry?
Playing the piano, Melvin Chen possessed the necessary elements for pure joy while Kelemen and Barsony made magic with the violin. Chen comes with a doctorate in chemistry from Harvard University and currently serves as Deputy Dean at the Yale School of Music. Together they brought to life the music written by great Hungarian composers: Johannes Brahms, Bela Bartok, and Laszlo Weiner.
The real alchemists however are Jerome Barry and the staff of the Embassy Series who deliver amazing performances from wonderful artists around the world, time and again. In doing so, they unite humanity through musical diplomacy–bringing diplomats like Hungarian Ambassador Gyorgy Szapari and renowned artists plus music lovers together for memorable evenings.
In each performance presented by the Embassy Series, one finds the best of humanity. At the Hungarian Embassy there was a professor of engineering, scientists, and people from all walks of life. And, just recently at the Turkish Embassy the audience included a former congressman, a retired rocket scientist and concert pianist, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission engineer, a senior associate at Center for Strategic and International Studies, and renowned architects and scholars.
The added attraction at the end of these performances is the sumptuous buffets by award winning chefs who came by several times to ensure that there were ample delights on the guests’ plates.
Information about the upcoming performances is available at the Embassy Series website.
