An incredible potential of percussion instruments alongside with electronic music has become the key “conquered peaks” of the 20th century classical music. Percussion, though being one of the oldest music form in the mankind history, was used by composers of the previous centuries rather modestly.
Virtuoso Israeli Tremolo Ensemble teamed up with INSO-Lviv Orchestra under direction of Maestro Theodore Kuchar will present the powerful and tremendous symphonic program featuring percussion as a key performer. It is the percussion that creates the leading colour in the music palette by Leonard Bernstein composed for the Oscar-winning film “On the Waterfront” (director – Elia Kazan) and embodies the tense and dynamic atmosphere of this legendary film.
Two Ukrainian premieres (!) in one night – pieces by the contemporary Israeli composers Avner Dorman and Dor Fischer. The both pieces can be described as Concerti for percussion and symphony orchestra, moreover, they both have almost the program titles.
“Spices, Perfumes and Toxins!” is comprised of three movements, each of which according to the composer Avner Dorman “refers to one of the three substances – so seductive and perilous at the same time”. This piece is a fusion of oriental and orchestra percussion instruments complemented with rock percussion. “Anticipation and Absurdity” by Dor Fischer received the second prize in Klon Award for young composers. This piece has a distinctive visual, almost cinematographic music language and is a sort of gallery of various rhythms.
Symphonic Picture from the folk opera “Porgy and Bess” by George Gershwin (arr. by Robert Russell Bennett) can be called a cherry on top. The famous “Summertime” song originated from this opera, and, by the way, the hypothesis exists saying that Gershwin composed this song under the impression from the concert of the Ukrainian National Choir in New York, with the program that included the Ukrainian lullaby “Ooh, the dream is walking by the windows” among others.
The concert is supported by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.