The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra will continue its 2013-14 concert season at 4 p.m. Sunday with a “Blast From the Past,” playing favorite works from previous years to commemorate the orchestra’s 10th anniversary. The program at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea will feature solo performances by concertmaster Ursula Vietze, principal second violinist Joel Gimpel and artistic director Madeline Schatz in Antonio Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” The orchestra’s string section will be highlighted in this program, which will also include Felix Mendelssohn’s “Swiss Symphony” and Samuel Barber’s “Adagio.” Tickets are $20, $15, $10 and $5, depending on seating, and can be purchased at Kahilu Theatre’s box office or at the door. For more information, visit kahilutheatre.org/Showinfo/Kamuela-Philharmonic-Orchestra-Blast-from-the-Past.
The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra will continue its 2013-14 concert season at 4 p.m. Sunday with a “Blast From the Past,” playing favorite works from previous years to commemorate the orchestra’s 10th anniversary. The program at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea will feature solo performances by concertmaster Ursula Vietze, principal second violinist Joel Gimpel and artistic director Madeline Schatz in Antonio Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” The orchestra’s string section will be highlighted in this program, which will also include Felix Mendelssohn’s “Swiss Symphony” and Samuel Barber’s “Adagio.” Tickets are $20, $15, $10 and $5, depending on seating, and can be purchased at Kahilu Theatre’s box office or at the door. For more information, visit kahilutheatre.org/Showinfo/Kamuela-Philharmonic-Orchestra-Blast-from-the-Past.
Vivaldi’s “Le quattro stagioni,” or “The Four Seasons,” composed in 1723, is among the most familiar pieces of baroque music, and Vivaldi’s best-known work. Vivaldi, who was highly inventive and avant-garde for his time, introduced the concept of instrumental music that tells a story with these compositions, a set of four violin concertos depicting spring, summer, fall and winter. The piece was first published in 1725 as part of a set of “Twelve concerti, Op. 8” titled “Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’inventione,” of “The Contest Between Harmony and Invention.” As a violin virtuoso, Vivaldi extended the technique of the instrument, illustrated by the complexity of the solo parts for these concertos.
Vietze will reprise her October 2005 performance of Concerto No. 1 in E Major, “La Primavera,” which depicts the bird song, melting snow and gentle breezes of the spring season. She will also perform Concerto No. 3 in E Major, “L’Autunno,” a musical celebration of the bountiful harvest and the beginning of the fall hunt. Vietze is founder and manager of Magic Strings ensemble, as well as concert master of the Kamuela Philharmonic and Kona Music Society orchestras. She studied at the Conservatory of Music in Frankfurt, Germany, and has played with orchestras in Germany and the United States. She was a member of the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the Johann Strauss Orchestra in Germany and has played with the Honolulu Symphony and Maui Symphony Orchestras. A resident of Hawaii since 1989, Vietze teaches violin and piano at Ursula’s Music Studio in Kona.
Gimpel also soloed with the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra in October 2005, on Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, “L’Estate,” which portrays searing summer heat and sometimes violent storms. Gimpel, who has a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois, was a music teacher and orchestra director in East Aurora, Ill., schools and has played violin and cello with several symphony orchestras. Upon retirement from his legal career, Gimpel moved to Kona where he has continued his musical pursuits. Besides acting as principal second violinist for the Kamuela Philharmonic, he plays violin and viola for private parties and celebrations, and in solo and chamber music recitals. He is a member of Kona’s Traveling Jewish Wedding Band, is the violinist for many local theater productions, and often acts as music director at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.
Schatz will be the soloist on Concerto No. 4 in F Minor: “L’Inverno.” The ice and freezing cold of the winter season is reflected in the music of this piece. Although in recent years Schatz has concentrated on teaching strings and piano, and developing the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra as artistic director and conductor, she moved to Hawaii Island after a long, successful career as a concert violinist and violist. As well as performing on violin and viola with major orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Los Angles Chamber Orchestra, Schatz has appeared with numerous orchestras, both nationally and internationally. She won the grand prize at the international Coleman Chamber Music Competition five times and has studied chamber music with the Julliard, Netherlands and Amadeus Quartets. She has also recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra.
Prolific German composer Felix Mendelssohn, referred to by his contemporary Robert Schumann as the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart of the 19th century, composed more than 400 pieces by the time he died at age 38. He was only 14 when he wrote String Symphony No. 9 (Swiss Symphony) after a family sightseeing trip to Lucerne, Switzerland. The work features a Swiss folk melody, and the third movement is reminiscent of mountain echoes. It also includes an alpine yodel. His music was the essence of Romanticism, with its expression of feelings and emotions. The orchestra first performed this piece at their debut concert on March 21, 2004.
Barber arranged the second movement of his “String Quartet, Op. 11” to create the beautiful “Adagio for Strings” in 1936. It is the composer’s best-known work, and some music critics consider it the most popular of all 20th century orchestral works. It has been used in numerous television shows and movies.
The mission of the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra Society is to present live, high-quality orchestral music to Big Island audiences, and to further the musical education of young people. As a charitable organization, donations to help the group accomplish that mission may be tax deductible. Any contributions made during concerts, mailed P.O. Box 2597, Kamuela, HI 96743, or done at kamuelaphil.org are appreciated.