By The Queen of Free
The performance on Friday at the Austrian Embassy began with a short interview on stage with the Austrian composer for the entire evening: Johanna Doderer, born in 1969 in Bregenz whose present preoccupation is opera.
Ms. Doderer is working on her fourth opera, A Kind of Yellow about Ira Hayes whose name she mentioned several times during the interview. (The program identified him as a "mythological character of American history.")
That Ms. Doderer who trained in Graz and Vienna was charming and sincere would be an understatement: "I write music that I want to hear" she said to the almost full house.
She said music composition was difficult even after working on it for 20 years: "I am still learning." The more she learns, the more she realizes she doesn't know, she said.
"I have lived in music all my life."
If the pieces played had titles, they were not listed on the program nor announced.
First up to perform after Ms. Doderer's interview was a barefooted, passionate Hungarian violinist, Edua Zadory whose output was exquisite and vigorous. To skip turning pages she placed her music on four easels.
The music throughout the evening was contemporary, haunting, and full of tension, and the first piece Ms. Zadory played suggested dissonance without remedy. It was surprising that none of her violin strings broke because she played the instrument so emphatically.
.Other performers on Friday who excited the audience were members of the Momenta Quartet described in the program as "a striking new-music quartet." Although the evening was filled with modern music which would nicely complement shows at the Hirshhorn Museum, the Momenta Quartet is also known for classical and Renaissance music.
Sponsor of the evening's performance was the Austrian Cultural Forum which works within the embassy producing more than 50 events a year that "address themes that represent common ground" between the U.S., Austria, and Europe, especially "new ideas that effectively represent the cultures of today's Austria and Europe."
Coming up at the Austrian Embassy are:
* a lecture about "criminal investigation" at 7:30 p.m. June 23 with Thomas Muller and John Leake
* a concert at 7:30 p.m., June 30 by the American Youth Harp Ensemble ($20)
* a concert at 7:30 p.m., July 9 by the radio string quartet vienna
Where: The Austrian Embassy, 3524 International Court, NW
Cost: Often free but reservations are required: click here for lecture reservations; click here for June 30 tickets; July 9, not yet announced
Metro Station: Van Ness
More information: 202-895-6776
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