Leo Eguchi performs his UNACCOMPANIED—eight cello solo commissions—Oct. 22 at the Pao Arts Center. Rachel Hadiashar photograph
By Keith Powers
Leo Eguchi: UNACCOMPANIED, Pao Arts Center, Boston, Oct. 22
“I asked composers to write something about their American identity,” says cellist Leo Eguchi. The results—eight new works for solo cello, with a brief video intro from each composer—will be premiered in a free concert on Oct. 22 at the Pao Center for the Arts in Chinatown.
The composers are Syrian, Mexican, Japanese, Afghani, Colombian, Chinese: Eguchi, himself a second-generation Japanese immigrant, says “I admired the work they were doing. They were changing lives in a place where their lives changed.” Each piece, less than ten minutes long, is introduced by a short video made by the composers. “That way the focus can be on the performance,” he says.
“Listening is just part of our humanity, of our stories together. When is the last time you heard something about immigration that changed your mind? I want to find a way around the normal political paradigm.
“I have no illusions that my project is going to fix issues,” Eguchi says. “If it makes a few people understand, it’s a win. I wanted something that stimulated listening. Every American—even Native Americans—are touched by immigration.”
And so, as he encourages in his introductory video to the project, “Go talk to your neighbors.”
Cellist Leo Eguchi premieres UNACCOMPANIED on Oct. 22, a free concert at the Pao Arts Center.
Chamber Music Events, Oct. 20–23
Violinist Alyssa Wang and pianist Max Levinson perform Prokofiev at NEC’s Burnes Hall on the 20th, a free concert, part of Levinson’s Connections series. A Gubaidulina trio and Shostakovich quintet round out the program. The ICA hosts two performances (21st, 22nd) with adventurous collaborators: JACK Quartet teams with Liz Gerring Dance, the music including John Luther Adams’s commissioned quartet. Enigma Opera stages Britten’s Prodigal Son Oct. 22 and 23 in Boston’s Cathedral Church of St. Paul. Horszowski Trio at Longy (trios by Pärt, Shostakovich) on the 21st. Pianist Sergey Schepkin plays Beethoven (Moonlight) and Bach (WTC selections) on the 21st at First Church in Boston. Fermata Chamber Soloists present a sharp-looking program (Turina, Messiaen, Norman) at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center on the 21st.
Pianist David Deveau joins the Boston Symphony Chamber Players (Mahler quartet) at Jordan Hall on the 23rd. Yehudi Wyner’s wind quintet Into the Evening Air also graces the program. A Far Cry continues its season with music of Revueltas, Ginastera, Impichchaachaaha’Tate on the 22nd (Jamaica Plain) and 23rd (Longy). Soprano Audrey Luna is accompanied by Newton Baroque director Andrus Madsen on fortepiano on the 22nd (Haydn, Mozart). Rhonda Rider and friends perform at BoCo on the 22nd (Yu-Hui Chang, Begay, Brahms). A program with Sqwonk Duo and Improbable Beasts? Gotta have it—Bass Clarinet Extravaganza at Grace Episcopal in Newton Corner on the 22nd.
Castle of Our Skins plays world premieres by Bongani Ndodana-Breen and Renée C. Baker at the Gardner on the 23rd. Wellesley Chamber Players have a packed program on the 23rd at Dana Hall School—including Schumann Op. 44 quintet. Historic houses in Beverly host cellist Guy Fishman and violinist Renée Hemsing (22nd, performances at Hale Farm and Balch House); Sheffield Chamber Players (22nd, Cabot House); and Arpeggione Ensemble (23rd, Cabot House) in a weekend festival. Soprano/harpist Zoe Vandermeer performs on the 25th at King’s Chapel in Government Center. The Kalliope Reed Quintet performs at David Friend Recital Hall on the 25th.
Winsor Music’s directors: Rane Moore, Peggy Pearson (founder), Gabriela Díaz. Robert Torres photograph
Winsor Music, Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, Oct. 28
When Rane Moore and Gabriela Díaz took over leadership of Winsor Music from founder Peggy Pearson in 2017, there was hardly a reason to change. Pearson had created a forward-thinking organization—community service, commissioning and transcribing new repertory, prioritizing diversity—“the direction we were already going was great,” Moore says.
Oboist Pearson remains part of Winsor’s foundation—a quartet, with continual guest collaborators. Moore (clarinets), Díaz (violin/viola) and Rafael Popper-Keizer (cello) round out the regular foursome, although cellist Jan Müller-Szeraws sits in for the Oct. 28th upcoming concert at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center. Winsor will be joined by soprano Sonja Tengblad and pianist Yoko Hagino. The concert includes commissions from Yu-Hui Chang, Eric Chasalow (Ghost Songs), and Milad Yousufi, and selections from the Boston Six—early century composers Beach, MacDowell, Price, Foote and Parker, all with city connections.
“I think this is the way forward for music,” Moore says. “To model what you see in the world. The whole concert has Boston connections, all short pieces, beautiful and exciting.”
Winsor Music, with premieres by Yu-Hui Chang, Eric Chasalow (Ghost Songs), and Milad Yousufi, Oct. 28 in the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center.
Chamber Music Events, Oct. 27–30
Singing Joby Talbot’s choral work Path of Miracles, the hard-working Skylark Vocal Ensemble performs Oct. 27 through the 30th in Sandwich, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill and Newburyport. Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky sings early opera arias Oct. 28, at Jordan Hall as part of BEMF’s concert season. Chameleon Arts Ensemble performs on the 29th and 30th—music for Halloween—at First Church in the Back Bay. Musicians of the Old Post Road perform women composers from the time of Prussian King Frederick the Great on the 29th in Sudbury and 30th in Emmanuel Church. Harpsichordist Jean Rondeau plays Bach (Goldberg Variations) at the Gardner the afternoon of the 30th.