Musicians of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Recital I: An Evening of Music of the Viola

NEW PALTZ — NEW PALTZ A solo recital featuring Valentina Charlap-Evans, principal violist of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic opens the SUNY New Paltz music concert series on Tuesday, September 16 at 8pm. The concert celebrates the dark, rich sound of the alto voice of the string family.

The program includes two classic works for the viola. In J.S. Bach’s Sonata for Clavier and Viola da Gamba No.1 in G, graceful melodic phrases gently pass in imitation from viola to keyboard, and between the two hands of the piano. The Sonata for Viola and Piano in F minor, Op.120, No.1 of Johannes Brahms is infused with the passion and powerful personal emotions that characterize 19th-century Romantic music. For each work, Charlap-Evans is accompanied by Ruthanne Schempf, piano.

“Parable” No. 16 for Solo Viola by 20th-century composer Vincent Persichetti is one of twenty-five “parables” the composer wrote for a diverse range of instruments including carillon, solo guitar, and solo viola. Dating from 1974, this work draws strongly on 20th century compositional techniques. Its style might be described as serial, akin to that of Anton Webern.

Emily Faxon joins Charlap-Evans for “Three Madrigals for Violin and Viola” by Bohuslav Martinù. These pieces are remarkable for the flexibility of their writing and the skillfulness of their harmonic progressions and rhythmic sequences.

Valentina Charlap-Evans is an award-winning fellowship alumnus of the Tanglewood Music Center and has spent numerous summers at the Festival Casals in Puerto Rico. She has played with the Boston Pops, American Ballet Theater, and Philharmonia Virtuosi. Valentina currently plays with the Springfield Symphony, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, the Poné Ensemble for New Music, and the Baroque ensemble La Grande Écurie, and has recorded for Soundspells, Albany, and MCA Records. She lives in Newburgh, NY with her husband, oboist Joël Evans.

Tickets to the concert are $5 general admission, $4 SUNY staff and senior citizens, $3 students. Tickets are available at Julien J. Studley Theatre beginning one hour prior to the performance. For additional information please call 845-257-3872.

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