Cellist Laurence Lesser and the New England Conservatory Celebrate 35 Years of First Mondays Concerts at Jordan Hall

Cellist Laurence Lesser and the New England Conservatory Celebrate 35 Years of First Mondays Concerts at Jordan Hall

This season, First Mondays concerts explore connections and friendships between composers and musicians who inspired each other. Well-loved classics and new compositions, performed by some of the finest chamber musicians in the world, the series is free and open to all

The 35^th season of cellist Laurence Lesser’s First Mondays at Jordan Hall takes as its thematic glue the friendships of composers with each other and their friends and inspirers. Each program connects pieces to make a historical or musical point. The first three concerts are all interrelated and highlight the relationships and connections between Clara and Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn, Joseph Joachim, and Johannes Brahms.

First Mondays at Jordan Hall are brilliant with music, always free to the public, and performed by some of the world’s best chamber musicians. First Mondays are fresh and full of imaginative pairings of well-loved classics and new work, performed in one of the finest places on the planet to hear music of this caliber: NEC’s own Jordan Hall.

Curated by Artistic Director and former President of NEC, cellist Laurence Lesser, the series of concerts is designed to stretch the listening ears of audience members while also providing a dive into classic and contemporary chamber music repertoire.

“After 34 years, I have developed a philosophy that says that there are a lot of very faithful listeners at First Monday concerts who trust me to stretch their listening ears,” says Laurence Lesser, Artistic Director of First Mondays at Jordan Hall. “I imagine I have earned their loyalty by giving them something that they know already or that they feel comfortable with and then building into that things that they never have thought about or that would be interesting to them in terms of the background of what we’re presenting. I have the audience very much in mind, but I also have my vision in mind and to find the right balance between those two things.” 

First Mondays at Jordan Hall Concert Listings:

First Mondays at Jordan Hall: Clara and Robert Schumann

Mon, October 7, 2019 | 7:30pm

NEC: Jordan Hall 290 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA

Tickets: Free

RSVP online: https://necmusic.edu/events/first-mondays-jordan-hall-clara-and-robert-schumann

Here’s a secret of great artistry: no one does it alone. This season, First Mondays explore connections and friendships between composers and musicians who inspired each other.

Join us as we celebrate 35 years of First Mondays: well-loved classics and new compositions, performed by some of the finest chamber musicians in the world, free and open to all.

Clara Wieck Schumann was born in 1819, 200 years ago. The love that united her and Robert had music at its core. While Clara deferred to Robert as composer, she was one of the most famous pianists of her time.  But her “Romances” of 1853, dedicated to the wonderful violinist Joseph Joachim (born 1832), show her deeply felt gift for composition. Robert’s part of the program includes his preoccupation with the human voice as an expression of love. His “chamber music year” (1842) finished with the enduringly popular piano quintet.

Program:

Clara Schumann: Three Romances for Violin and Piano, op. 22 (dedicated to Joseph Joachim)

Donald Weilerstein, violin

Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, piano

 

Robert Schumann: Spanische Liebeslieder, op.138

Sarah Yanovitch*, soprano

Jaime Korkos*, mezzo-soprano

Michael Kuh*, tenor

Corey Gaudreau*, baritone

Tanya Blaich, piano

Cameron Stowe, piano

 

Robert Schumann: Piano Quintet in E–flat Major, op. 44

Donald Weilerstein, violin

Ari Isaacman-Beck*, violin

Kim Kashkashian, viola

Timotheos Petrin*, cello

Michael Bukhman, piano

           

 

First Mondays at Jordan Hall: Mendelssohn

Mon, November 4, 2019 | 7:30pm

NEC: Jordan Hall 290 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA

Tickets: Free

RSVP online: https://necmusic.edu/events/first-mondays-jordan-hall-mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn, one of history’s truly great musical prodigies, had already established his importance by the age of 16 with the Octet for Strings. His chamber works flowed forth through the rest of his short life. Equally important to the world was his role in the revival of the music of J.S. Bach. His Berlin performance in 1829 of the St. Matthew Passion rekindled the reputation of an almost forgotten giant. This program interweaves his chamber music with works by Bach that he performed. Incidentally, in 1844 Mendelssohn introduced the 12- year old Joseph Joachim to the London public in a historic performance of Beethoven’s violin concerto with Mendelssohn conducting.

Program:

Felix Mendelssohn: Song without words in D Major, op. 109 (dedicated to Lisa Cristiani)

SujIn Lee*, cello; Jung-A Bang*, piano

 

Bach: Concerto in D Minor for three harpsichords, BWV 1063

Ian Watson, Peter Sykes*, Nickolai Sheikov* - harpsichord;
Gabriela Díaz*, Leonard Fu* - violins;
Sarah Darling*, viola;
Guy Fishman, cello*;
Charles Clements*, double bass                                            

Bach: “Erbarme dich” from St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244

Erica Brookhyser*, mezzo soprano;

Ayano Ninomiya*, obligato violin, Gabby Díaz, Leonard Fu - violins;

Sarah Darling, viola;

Guy Fishman, cello*;
Charles Clements, double bass;
Nickolai Sheikov, portative organ

 

Felix Mendelssohn: String Quintet No. 2 in B–flat Major, op. 87

Ayano Ninomiya, Lucy Chapman - violins;
Marcus Thompson, Sarah Darling - violas;
Lluís Claret, cello

 

First Mondays at Jordan Hall: Brahms

Mon, December 2nd, 2019 | 7:30pm

NEC: Jordan Hall 290 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA

Tickets: Free

RSVP online: https://necmusic.edu/events/first-mondays-jordan-hall-brahms

Johannes Brahms, the youngest of the five friends, was proclaimed by Schumann in an article titled “New Paths” as the composer who would lead the way into the future of music. Even before, Brahms and violinist/composer Joseph Joachim had “found one another” and their lifelong friendship was in important stimulus for each. Brahms’ piano quintet actually began as a no piano 2 cello quintet. But Clara Schumann said it needed the strength of a piano. After transcribing it for piano 4-hands, Brahms found the perfect solution – strings and piano as we know it today.

Program:

Brahms, Dietrich, Schumann: F-A-E Sonata (dedicated to Joseph Joachim)

In Mo Yang*, violin; Randall Hodgkinson*, piano

 

Brahms: Three Songs for 6-part Chorus, op. 42

Carduus, Holly Druckman*, Director

Catherine Psarakis*, soprano

Wei En Chan*, countertenor

Burcu Gulec*, mezzo Soprano

Sullivan Hart*, tenor

Tyler Bouque, baritone

Elijah Botkin, bass

 

Johann Strauss II (arranged by Arnold Schoenberg): Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz), op. 437

Nicholas Kitchen*, In Mo Yang – violins;
Nicholas Cords, viola;

Paul Katz, cello;
Randall Hodgkinson, piano;
Renée Krimsier*, flute;
Somin Lee*, clarinet

 

Brahms: Piano Quintet in F Minor, op. 34

Nicholas Kitchen, In Mo Yang, violins;
Nicholas Cords, viola;
Paul Katz, cello;
Randall Hodgkinson, piano

 

First Mondays at Jordan Hall: American Sonorities

Mon, March 2nd, 2020 | 7:30pm

NEC: Jordan Hall 290 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA

Tickets: Free

RSVP online: https://necmusic.edu/events/first-mondays-jordan-hall-american-sonorities

 

Here’s a secret of great artistry: no one does it alone. This season, First Mondays explore connections and friendships between composers and musicians who inspired each other.

Join us as we celebrate 35 years of First Mondays: well-loved classics and new compositions, performed by some of the finest chamber musicians in the world, free and open to all.

 

Program:

Edgar Varèse: Octandre

Paula Robison, flute

Amanda Hardy, oboe

Alexis Lanz, clarinet

Richard Ranti, bassoon

Sarah Sutherland, French horn

Michael Dobrinski , trumpet

Robyn Smith ’19, ’21 MM, trombone

Donald Palma, double bass

 

Ken Ueno: Atlas of Crossed Destinies

Tessa Lark ’10, ’12 MM, violin

Kim Kashkashian, viola

 

Songs by Leonard Bernstein

Darynn Dean ’19, voice

Daniel Szabo*, piano

 

Leon Kirchner: Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano: I

Merz Trio

 

Joan Tower: DNA

Luis Herrera ’17 MM, ’19 GD, Aaron Trant*; Jeff Means*; Matt McKay*, percussion

 

First Mondays at Jordan Hall: Beethoven, Part I

Sat, April 6th, 2019 | 7:30pm

NEC: Jordan Hall 290 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA

Tickets: Free

RSVP online: https://necmusic.edu/events/first-mondays-jordan-hall-beethoven-part-i

 

Here’s a secret of great artistry: no one does it alone. This season, First Mondays explore connections and friendships between composers and musicians who inspired each other.

Join us as we celebrate 35 years of First Mondays: well-loved classics and new compositions, performed by some of the finest chamber musicians in the world, free and open to all.

 

Program:

Mozart: Trio in E-flat Major, K 498

Michael Wayne, clarinet

Paul Biss, viola

Victor Rosenbaum, piano

Bettina von Arnim and Franz Schubert: Lieder on poetry by J.W. von Goethe

Paula Murrihy, mezzo-soprano

Tanya Blaich, piano

 

Beethoven: Piano Trio in B-flat Major, op. 97 (“Archduke”)

Soovin Kim, violin

Laurence Lesser, cello

HaeSun Paik, piano    

 

First Mondays at Jordan Hall: Beethoven, Part II

Sat, May 4th, 2019 | 7:30pm

NEC: Jordan Hall 290 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA

Tickets: Free

RSVP online: https://necmusic.edu/events/first-mondays-jordan-hall-beethoven-part-i

 

Here’s a secret of great artistry: no one does it alone. This season, First Mondays explore connections and friendships between composers and musicians who inspired each other.

Join us as we celebrate 35 years of First Mondays: well-loved classics and new compositions, performed by some of the finest chamber musicians in the world, free and open to all.

 

Program:

Beethoven: String Quintet in C Major, op. 29

Verona Quartet (Quartet in residence | NEC's Professional String Quartet Program):

Jonathan Ong, violin

Dorothy Ro, violin

Abigail Rojansky, viola

Jonathan Dormand, cello;

Cathy Basrak, viola

 

Beethoven: “An die ferne Geliebte” (To the distant beloved), Op. 98

Randall Scarlata, baritone; Cameron Stowe, piano

 

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, op. 132

Parker Quartet (Quartet in residence 2006-08 | NEC's Professional String Quartet Program):

Daniel Chong, violin

Ken Hamao, violin

Jessica Bodner, viola

Kee-Hyun Kim, cello

 

All artists with * indicate NEC alumni

About Laurence Lesser:

A native of Los Angeles, Laurence Lesser was a top prizewinner in the 1966?Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and a participant in the historic Heifetz-Piatigorsky?concerts and recordings. Mr. Lesser has appeared as a soloist with the Boston Symphony?Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New Japan?Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic and other major orchestras. His New York debut?recital in 1969 was greeted as "triumphant" and “magical.”?Of his Tchaikovsky Rococo?Variations in Hamburg, Die Welt stated, “he could not have been more thoroughly realized?than is this staggering performance.” 

As a chamber musician he has participated at the Casals, Marlboro, Spoleto, Ravinia,?Music@Menlo and Santa Fe festivals.?He has also been a member of juries for numerous?international competitions, including chairing the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in?1994. 

A 1961 graduate of Harvard College, where he studied mathematics, Lesser went to Köln, Germany the following year to work with Gaspar Cassadó. Just before his study with Cassadó, he played at the?Zermatt master classes for Pablo Casals, who declared, “Thank God who has given you such a great talent!” He won first prize at the Cassadó Competition in Siena, Italy in 1962.?When he returned to Los Angeles, he studied with Gregor Piatigorsky and soon became?his teaching assistant and regular faculty member at the University of Southern California.

During the remainder of the 60's he was a frequent contributor to the artistic life of Los?Angeles. His performance of the Schoenberg Cello Concerto to inaugurate?the Bing Auditorium at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1965 was its first hearing with?orchestra after Emanuel Feuermann introduced the work in the late 1930’s. He recorded it?the following year for Columbia Masterworks. He left Los Angeles in 1970 to become?Professor of Cello at Baltimore's Peabody Institute.?

Lesser was invited in 1974 by then President Gunther Schuller to join New England Conservatory’s cello faculty.?In 1983 he was named the school’s?President, a position from which he retired in 1996 to return to performing and full-time teaching. The restoration of the 1000-seat Jordan?Hall marked a high point of his tenure as President. Teaching has always been an important part of Lesser’s artistic activity. His former?students, numbering in the hundreds, are soloists, orchestra section leaders and?members, chamber musicians and teachers, active throughout the world. 

In 2005 Lesser was named “Chevalier du Violoncelle” by the Eva Janzer?Memorial Cello Center at Indiana University. His recordings include Beethoven’s Complete Music for Cello and Piano with pianist HaeSun Paik?on Bridge Records and a recording of J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites which includes Lesser’s new edition of the Fifth Cello Suite. The new edition combines Anna Magdalena Bach’s copy of her husband’s manuscript of the suite (now lost) with the composer’s manuscript of his arrangement of the suite for lute.?Other labels he has recorded for include RCA, Columbia, Melodiya, and CRI.

He plays a 1622 cello made by the brothers Amati in Cremona, Italy.

About New England Conservatory:

New England Conservatory (NEC) is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools, educating and training musicians of all ages from around the world for over 150 years.  With music students representing more than 40 countries, NEC cultivates a diverse, dynamic community for students, providing them with performance opportunities and high-caliber training by 225 internationally-esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of making and teaching music through college-level musical training in classical, jazz and Contemporary Improvisation. It offers unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships that empower students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC's mission to make lifelong music education  available to everyone, the Preparatory School and School of Continuing Education delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students and adults.

Founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1867 by Eben Tourjée, NEC created a new model of conservatory that combined the best of European tradition with American innovation. NEC is at the center of Boston’s rich cultural history and musical life offering concerts performed in NEC’s renowned venue Jordan Hall. Alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios and arts management positions worldwide. necmusic.edu

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