2022-23 SUNDAY MUSIC IN THE GARDEN ROOM

SUNDAY MUSIC IN THE GARDEN ROOM

MAY 7, 2023  

2 P.M.

The Last of the Romantics

Beth Silver (cello) and Jenna Richards (piano) are known for their characterful delivery and non-traditional programs. The Last of the Romantics explores melancholic, sensuous, ethereal, and evocative pieces from Rachmaninov to Nadia Boulanger. As is typical of the duo, scores for the cello juxtapose and complement stolen art song repertoire.

 

BETH SILVER, cello                           JENNA RICHARDS, piano

Beth Silver and Jenna Richards have been performing together since they met in their undergraduate years at the University of Toronto. With a love of sight-reading repertoire and exploring different works, the duo quickly began programming pieces not only written for cello, but for other mediums like violin, and voice. The duo has performed for festivals, concert series, in house concerts, town halls and schools, at longterm care facilities, and for audiences with exceptionalities. Now frequently referred to as “JennaBeth” due to an infamously hilarious mis-introduction at Ottawa Chamberfest and the performers’ continued friendship, the duo is always searching for special pieces and moments to share with their audiences. Highlights of Jenna and Beth’s past seasons include Scotiafest’s Chamber Players series, Festival Pontiac Enchanté, Ottawa Chamberfest, Xenia Concerts, Ascension’s Chamber Series, Music Mondays, and Acadia’s Sunday Music in the Garden Room (November 2018).

 

Program

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873 – 1943):

Ne poy, krasavitsa, prim ne, (“Oh, never sing to me again”), Op. 4, no. 4

Sonata in G minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 19

  1. Lento – Allegro moderato
  2. Allegro scherzando

Ofyn Veg Sheyt a Boym (Traditional arr. Silver)

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959):

Elégie for cello and piano, W094

Elizabeth Raum* (b. 1945):

Wascana Park

Andrew Downing* (b. 1973):

Red Canoe (commissioned for Beth and Jenna in 2021)

Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979):

Trois Pieces pour violoncelle et piano

A few Stolen Art Songs

Selections from the Ukrainian Art Song Project

Bughici collection medley (Traditional arr. Silver)

 

* Indicates Canadian composer

 

BETH BIO:

Beth Silver is thrilled to be part of a community in which she can thrive on her intuition and creativity.  Admired for her ability to paint in many colours through her instrument, she enjoys capturing character and spontaneity in music - especially amidst interactive chamber settings.  From high school through her master’s degree, Beth studied with Simon Fryer, Shauna Rolston, Matt Haimovitz, and Rachel Mercer. Beth is the recipient of numerous awards including the Ben Steinberg Musical Legacy Award recognizing musical achievement in the Canadian Jewish community. She has performed in tours and festivals around the world, such as Salzburg’s Kammermusik Festival, Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival, the Napa Valley Festival del Sole, and Debut Atlantic, Prairie Debut and Jeunesses Musicales tours with the Ladom Ensemble and recently received a prestigious grant to study traditional Jewish music for two months in Romania. A lover of many genres, Beth is equally at home in a classical ensemble as she is in a band exploring new voices for cello, though she holds an entirely Canadian classical-focused education. As hobbies, she enjoys painting, horticulture, yoga, and hanging with her cat Sica.

 

JENNA BIO:

Jenna Richards embraces a demanding schedule as a portfolio musician, including performance, public speaking, research, and arts programming. She has performed from Toronto to Salzburg, organized national research projects, spoken at the Walrus talks and Harvard, and programmed over 800 musical events. Throughout her undergraduate and master’s degrees, Jenna was heavily involved in the musical communities of Toronto and Ottawa in performance and production. Favourite performances in recent years include Acadia’s Sunday Music in the Garden Room, Music at Mill Road, New Music Now series, Ottawa Chamberfest, adapted concerts for children with exceptionalities, and performances for palliative care centers. Jenna holds nine consecutive Nova Scotia Talent Trust awards and is currently pursuing her PhD, Interdisciplinary Research in Music, serving as the Associate Music Director for the Canadian Centennial Choir and a Board member for Xenia Concerts Inc., and programming various artistic streams as Director of Artistic Planning and Community Engagement at Ottawa Chamberfest. In her (little) downtime, Jenna loves being in nature, playing soccer, and learning languages.

 

Concerts for season 2023-24 already in place:

 

September 17 – La Fiammata – piano four hands (Debut Atlantic)

 

October 15 – Stephen Runge – piano

 

November 12 or 19 – Stick&Bow – cello and marimba (Debut Atlantic)

 

February 18, 2024 – Duo Cordelia – violin and piano (Debut Atlantic)

 

March 17 – Amadeus Guitar Duo