The city’s Dvořák Festival begins tomorrow and Camerata San Antonio is getting ready for their performance on Sunday, January 19.
"We are truly excited to be partnering with the San Antonio Symphony in their yearly festival," said cellist and co-founder Ken Freudigman.
Camerata is a four-piece chamber ensemble that grows just a bit during these festivals.
"This year Camerata will be partnering with the soloist pianist Michel Dalberto in the magnificent 'Piano Quintet in A Major,'" Freudigman said.
But Dalberto isn’t Camerata’s only guest.
"Also on the program is native-born Nancy Zhou -- she’s taking the world by storm," Freudigman said.
San Antonio Symphony Music Director Sebastian Lang-Lessing is bringing her back to play with the symphony, and Camerata gets her to perform "Romance for Violin and Piano Op. 11."
I asked Freudigman if the concept of a city-wide observance of one composer a year was a neat device for advancing everyone’s classical music knowledge.
"I certainly think it is," he said. "When you immerse yourself in one composer you get to understand not only the music, but the person behind the music. Dvořák is so exuberant. It is filled with such joy that I cannot help but smile onstage when I’m playing. I think anybody who hears it will have that kind of reaction."
You can put his thoughts to the test on January 19 at Christ Episcopal Church, which he said is a wonderful place to see Camerata.
"Everyone has a great seat and they’re up close, and you can really see the great interplay between musicians," Freudigman said.
- Learn more about Camerata performances at: www.cameratasa.org
