The second concert in the 2012 season of the Music in the Mishkan chamber music series will take place in about one month’s time. This is a three-part annual chamber music series sponsored by Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in the Mission with the goal of representing the work of at least one Jewish composer at each concert. The featured composer next month will be former San Francisco resident and former Director of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Ernest Bloch. In addition to being a major composer of the twentieth century, Bloch was a man with a passionate commitment to interfaith dialog. Thus, while there is definitely a strong Jewish element in many of his compositions, his breadth of vision extended in other directions, as was the case with his 1923 piano solo “Nirvana.”
The Bloch composition to be performed next month will be his Suite Hébraïque in three movements: “Rhapsodie,” “Processional,” and “Affirmation.” Bloch composed it early in 1951, long after he left San Francisco and was living in Agate Beach, Oregon. The work was originally written for viola and piano, and it will be performed in that version by violist Patricia Whaley and pianist Marilyn Thompson. However, Bloch also published a version for violin, as well as an orchestral accompaniment for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets (both B-flat and A), two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, timpani, two percussionists sharing snare drum, cymbals, and gong, harp, and string section. The composition was dedicated to the Covenant Club of Illinois.
The other soloist to be featured next month will be violinist Randall Weiss, who is Director of the Music in the Mishkan series. He will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s final (tenth) violin sonata, Opus 96 in G major. Thompson will again serve as accompanist. Finally, Weiss, Whaley, and Thompson will join forces with cellist Michael Graham in a performance of Johannes Brahms’ Opus 26 piano quartet in A major (his second).
This performance will begin at 4 PM on Sunday, March 11, and last about two hours. The venue is Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, located at 290 Dolores Street at 16th Street. Tickets cost $20 with a special $15 rate for Members. Orders may placed by calling the synagogue at 415-861-6932.
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