February 28, 2010 at 4 p.m.
Program:
J.S. Bach Violin Sonatas (TBA)
Antonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons
An all Baroque program is featured as the third concert of the 2009-2010 Candlelight season.The versatile American harpsichordist, pianist, conductor, musicologist and pedagogue Kenneth Cooper was trained at New York’s High School of Music and Art, the Mannes College of Music, and Columbia University. He made his debut as a harpsichordist at London’s Wigmore Hall in 1965. A US debut followed in 1973 at New York’s Alice Tully Hall. In subsequent years, he toured widely in the USA and abroad.
Mr. Cooper is one of the world’s leading specialists in the music of the 18th century, and one of America’s most exciting and versatile performers. Renowned for his improvisations and his expertise in ornamentation, he has revived countless musical works, lending them extraordinary authenticity and vitality. His comprehensive repertory embraces works from the early keyboard era to the avant-garde. Among the 20th century composers whose works he has premiered are George Flynn, Daniel Paget, Seymour Barab, Noel Lee, Ferruccio Busoni, Paul Ben-Haim, and Ernst Krenek.
As music director of the Berkshire Bach Ensemble, Mr. Cooper has made a tradition of the New Year’s performances of the Bach Brandenburg Concerti, and has instituted a series of “Concertofests” in the style of Bach’s Collegium concerts at Zimmermann’s Kaffeehaus. He has been co-director of the legendary Our Bach concerts and was featured on Live From Lincoln Center as soloist in Bach’s Brandenburg No. 5 with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He has also appeared as guest soloist with the American Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Mostly Mozart Festival, the Yale Norfolk Festival, and in many other venues.
Mr. Cooper has served on the faculties of Barnard College, the Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, the Mannes College of Music, the Manhattan School of Music and the Peabody Conservatory. He has made dozens of recordings and soundtracks for CBS, Vanguard, and EMI records.
Ani Kavafian has performed with virtually all of America’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, as well as the Philadelphia, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, St. Louis, Detroit, and San Francisco orchestras. Among the many premieres she has given are Henri Lazarof’s Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra, and Aaron Kernis’ Double Concerto for Violin and Guitar. Her numerous recital engagements include performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall, and Alice Tully as well as in venues across the country. A long time artist-member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, she collaborates with such distinguished musicians as André-Michel Schub and David Shifrin.
Born in Istanbul, Turkey, of Armenian decent, Ani Kavafian began her musical studies with piano lessons at the age of three. At age nine, shortly after her family came to the United States, she began the study of the violin with Ara Zerounian. At the age of sixteen, she won first prize in both the piano and violin competitions at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. Two years later, she began violin studies at the Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian, eventually receiving a Master’s Degree with top honors. Ms. Kavafian resides in Northern Westchester, New York with her husband, artist Bernard Minich, and their son, Matthew. She plays a 1736 Muir McKenzie Stradavarius violin.
The February 28th concert takes place at 4:00 p.m. at the Wilton Congregational Church, just north of Wilton center on Route 33. Tickets may be obtained at the door for $25 dollars ($10 for students). For information on subscriptions to the entire four concert series, go to the ticket order page. Season tickets start at $90 ($75 for seniors); and patrons and benefactors of the series have the option of bringing two or four children under 16 (respectively) to the concerts free of cost. For more information on this concert or on the series, or to order a series brochure to be sent to you, call (203) 762-3401 or (203) 762-5019. Candlelight Concerts benefits the Wilton Library, and happily accepts individual and corporate tax deductible contributions.