Fourth Sunday’s Concert Series
Posted on 05. Feb, 2010 by DanielKalmar in Chamber Music Series
New Music quartet loadbang presents a unique program of all-original music conceived by members of the group. Each member (Alejandro Acierto, bass clarinet; Jeff Gavett, baritone voice; Andy Kozar, trumpet; Will Lang, trombone) has contributed equally to the project by composing one quarter of the program.
These new pieces take advantage of loadbang’s facility in improvisation, while pushing the ensemble in new directions. Andy Kozar’s work for this concert is a kind of translation; Chinese characters are stripped of their semantic meaning and broken down into shapes to be realized as musical contours. Jeff Gavett’s work is concerned primarily with formal aspects of time. Large temporal divisions are delineated with great specificity, but the ensemble is left to fill these durations on the fly, improvising and imitating one another. Finally, one half of the group’s compositional personalities will be heard for the first time as Alejandro Acierto and Will Lang will present their premier compositions for loadbang.
All of the works to be presented are literally experimental: each performer-composer has branched out into unknown territory musically and notationally. Guided improvisation. Game pieces. Graphic scores. Loadbang’s originals straddle these categories.
The Solarium, The Roger Smith Hotel
Tickets $15 at the door, cash only
For reservations please contact 212.339.2092
or rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com
Elena Andujar @RShotel for the love of New York and Flamenco!
Posted on 03. Feb, 2010 by DanielKalmar in Art at Roger Smith, Arts
We became friends with Elena initially through the Iberian Festival, which was an annual Spanish cultural event, held at the Rog, that featured culinary superstars such as Santi Santamaria, the Cándidos and their Cochinillos, Don Felix Duran from the paradisiacal Pyrenean town of El Quer Foradat and many, many more. With Elena’s collaboration, the festival evolved from a primarily culinary event to a broader celebration of Spanish culture and a new focus on flamenco and on Andalucia in general.
She arrived in NY that year – almost 10 years ago – with her nine year old son, Antonio, in tow and moved in to the Roger Smith for a month. During the festival, Elena sang and danced a few nights per week, with little Antonio attending each tablao and occasionally stepping out to dance a few moves or drum on the cajón…a crowd-pleasing foreshadow of the talent he would later develop! When he wasn’t performing with his mom, he would cruise the hotel, a relative Eloise let loose in a new a fabulous place, full of interesting things and people.
Elena Andujar, born of a Sevillana and a New Yorker, uses flamenco to bridge the cultures that she represents. Her work includes festivals, self-produced espectáculos, master classes and even early-stage plans to make a movie of her life story, set here and there. Her bigscreen career began when she was cast in the movie Devil’s Advocate along with flamenco great, Tomatito, to perform with Al Pacino.
So…as we knock around the idea of reviving the Iberian Festival, we’d love to hear your feedback! Let us know your thoughts!
Classical Guitarist Mattias Jacobsson, Sunday 1/10 at 4pm
Posted on 08. Jan, 2010 by admin in Arts, Chamber Music Series
Mattias Jacobsson 4:00pm in the Solarium, 16th floor Roger Smith Hotel, 47th and Lexington, NYC Tickets $15 – Free wine and cheese Reservations, email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com or call (212) 339-2092
As the chosen guitarist for Televisión Española’s centennial celebration of Francisco Tárrega,Mattias Jacobsson has emerged as one of the up-and-coming guitarists on the international stage today. The program “Es Música” will be broadcast bi-weekly throughout 2009.
Engagements include concerto appearances in The United States and Sweden, live performances at WQXR Radio and performances with guitarist Sharon Isbin at the Aspen Music Festival where they performed music by Howard Shore from Martin Scorsese’s movie The Departed, which was later broadcast on NPR’s Performance Today to an audience of 1.1 million. In June, 2008, Mr. Jacobsson was featured in the BBC documentary series “Imagine” about Oliver Sacks; in August, 2008, he replaced Angel Romero in both Concierto de Aranjuez andFantasia para un Gentilhombre by Rodrigo; and in March, 2009, he made his debut with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra.
At the age of 17, Mr. Jacobsson made his recital debut at the Stockholm International Guitar Festival on very short notice, immediately followed by a tour of Estonia, along with his first recording album containing music by Bach, Poulenc, Mertz, Lauro, Albéniz, Sor and Tárrega. Since then, he has performed with principal members of Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and The Royal Danish Opera, and has been broadcast on BBC, TVE, WQXR, NPR and SRP2, the Swedish classical radio. He has also made recital and chamber music appearances in major Swedish venues as well as Alice Tully Hall, New York.
Born in Sweden in November, 1984, Mattias Jacobsson began studying the guitar with Erik Möllerström and Bo Hansson. He continued his studies at the Malmö Academy of Music with Göran Söllscher and Gunnar Spjuth and at The Juilliard School with Sharon Isbin.
Mr. Jacobsson plays exclusively on guitars by Thomas Fredholm.
Second Sundays Classical Guitar Concert Series 2009-2010
Posted on 15. Nov, 2009 by AdamWallace in Art at Roger Smith, Arts, Chamber Music Series
Second Sundays Classical Guitar Concert Series 2009-2010, co-presented by the NYCCGS and RogerSmithArts, is proud to announce the 2009-2010 season.
Concerts begin at 4:00 PM and take place in the penthouse recital space of the Roger Smith Hotel, located at 501 Lexington Ave. at East 47th St. (see map).
Tickets $15, includes wine and cheese.
For reservations, email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com or call (212) 333-2092.
September 13 – Valerie Hartzell
October 11 – Max Zuckerman
November 8 – Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
December 13 – Anthony Bez
January 10 – Gabriel Bianco
February 14 – Thomas Viloteau
March 14 – Daniel Acsadi
April 11 – Pia Gazarek-Offermann
May 9 – Brad Richter
June 13 – Dieter Hennings
July 11 – Atanas Ourkouzounov
Guitarist Alberto J. Rodríguez-Ortiz: Nov 8th @RSH
Posted on 03. Nov, 2009 by AdamWallace in Arts, Chamber Music Series
“…there could be no better introduction to the Latin American classical guitar.”
Micaela Kramer, Classical Guitar Magazine
I met Alberto J. Rodríguez-Ortiz earlier this month at a new music festival in Mexico. He’s a fabuous human being as well as guitarist and composer. So I’m thrilled to announce he will play for Second Sundays Classical Guitar Series at the Roger Smith Hotel at 4pm on November 8; 501 Lexington Ave (tickets $15 at the door, to reserve call 212-339-2092). Alberto is among the most active contemporary interpreters and composers of the new generation of Puerto Rican musicians.
Among various international festivals Rodríguez-Ortiz has participated are the Festival Pa´Lo escrito (Mexico City, 2009, 2008), Festival Casals (Puerto Rico, 2008), Fiesta Iberoamericana de las Artes (Puerto Rico, 2007), Festival de Música Contemporánea and Foro de Compositores del Caribe (La Habana, Cuba, 2006 and 2004); International Guitar Festival of Puerto Rico (2000), El Salvador’s International Festival of Contemporary Music (2000); María Escalón de Núñez’s Guitar Festival (El Salvador 2000), Second Twentieth Century Music Festival (San Juan, Puerto Rico 1999). That same year he opened the concert series “Caras Nuevas”, sponsored by FAMA. In 1997, he was invited as composer in residence at The Rome Festival. Rodríguez-Ortiz has also performed in cities such as London, Porto, Paris, Vienna, Morelia, Orlando, Miami and New York. In this last city, he made his debut in 1997 as part of the series “Música de Cámara, Inc.” He has performed extensively with the guitar trio “Matices”, ensemble that received the first prize at Puerto Rico’s Chamber Music Festival in 1994 with his composition “Invocando a Yúcahu”. He has been soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of El Salvador and the Symphony Orchestra of Bayamón.
His program is fascinating!
- Frank Wallace, Artistic Director of Second Sunday’s Classical Guitar Series
Sólo entre Bach y yo
Sonata no. 2* Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
Intro (Íntimo-Allegro)
Canción nocturna
Allegro violento
Partita II para violín BWV 1004 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Allemanda arr. Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
Corrente
Sarabanda
Giga
Ciaccona
Intermedio
Preludio, Fuga y Allegro BWV 998 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Sonata no. 3 “Homenaje a la Sonora Ponceña y a Bach”* Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
Adagio rítmico “Preludio en candela”
Scherzo (Presto) “Canción en gavota”
Aire y fuga…al fogón
* NYC premier
Photography Show Opening: Dave Prutting
Posted on 09. Sep, 2009 by AdamWallace in Art at Roger Smith, Arts
On Tuesday, September 8 photographer Dave Prutting had an opening reception for his photography show “Italy in 8″ in the lobby of the Roger Smith Hotel. The show is on display from July 15- October 15, 2009.
“Italy in 8″
Dave Prutting in the Lobby of the Roger Smith Hotel
Photograph by Julian Mackler
Photographs from opening night, by John Knowles
Mike Holland plays piano in Lily’s after the opening in the lobby
Craig Greenburg Plays Piano in Lily’s Restaurant
Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by AdamWallace in Art at Roger Smith, Arts, Chamber Music Series, Community
On Saturday August 22 Craig Greenburg played the piano in Lily’s Restaurant in midtown Manhattan.
His playing was the night before the opening of the Roger Smith Shorts Film Festival
Craig Greenberg plays Cat Stevens in Lily’s
Craig plays the piano in Lily’s #2
Craig plays the piano in Lily’s #3
September 13: Valerie Hartzell opens the Second Sundays Series
Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by AdamWallace in Art at Roger Smith, Arts, Chamber Music Series
Sunday, September 13, 2009, at 4:00 PM
Penthouse recital space of the Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington Ave. at 47th St. (see map)
New York City
Co-sponsored by the New York City Classical Guitar Society and RogerSmithArts.
Tickets $15, includes wine and cheese.
For reservations, email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com or call (212) 339-2092.
Valerie Hartzell began her classical guitar studies on a half-size Ramirez at the age of three. At the age of six, she studied with maestro Alexandre Lagoya at the Académie Internationale d’Eté in Nice, France. She has participated in master classes with several internationally acclaimed artists, including Ako Ito, Castellani-Andriaccio Duo, David Russell, and Elena Papandreou. In 1991, Ms. Hartzell made her debut performing Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s “Concerto for guitar and orchestra” with the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, Texas. She made her international debut in San Mamete, Italy at the Festival del Piccolo Mondo in August 1994. She has performed in Europe, Canada, the U.S. and has appeared on television in Nice, FR. From September 29-October 5, 2002 she toured the Carolinas which promoted her first cd, Fuoco!
She has performed in many festivals, including the ‘Close Encounters’ Voice and Guitar Festival at University of Houston (where she performed and co-directed the festival along the side of Katherine Ciesinski), the Eastfield College Guitar Festival and Competition in Mesquite, the first Classical Guitar Weekend Workshop at The Music Conservatory of Texas in Frisco, the Tennessee Festival at Middle Tennessee State University, the ECU Competition and Festival in Greenville, NC and the MANC Guitar Competition and Festival in Greensboro, NC. She has won 1st prizes at the 10th International Guitar Competition “Simone Salmaso” in Viareggio, Italy and at the Concours de Guitare Classique Heitor Villa-Lobos in Nice, France among other prizes. At the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, Ms. Hartzell was awarded the highest undergraduate scholarship for the classical guitar and studied with Manuel Barrueco earning her Bachelor’s Degree in 1997. She was awarded a Graduate Teaching Fellowship at Radford University with Robert Trent and was placed as Adjunct Faculty while studying for her Master’s Degree in Music. She received her performance degree in May of 1999 and currently, she is a Professional Teacher at Moores School of Music, University of Houston and is Adjunct Faculty at the Houston Community College. She also accompanies many vocal students at both Moores School of Music, University of Houston and at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University.
She keeps an active solo career and works in a professional duo with soprano Sandra Johnson, as Duo Athena and frequently is a judge at international competitions throughout the United States (St. Joseph International Competition, Texas Guitar Competition, East Carolina University International Competition, the Eastfield Guitar Competition, the ‘Classical Minds’ Guitar Competition, and the MANC Guitar Competition). Many of her private students have placed and won national and international competitions. Also, her private students have been accepted on scholarship to Schwob School of Music (University of Columbus), San Francisco Conservatory, University of North Texas in Denton, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Texas State University at San Marcos.
Valerie Hartzell is the creator and Director of the “Classical Minds” Guitar Festival and Competition at Moores School of Music, University of Houston and is the director of the Greater Houston Guitar Guild.
For more information, visit our website at nyccgs.org . I look forward to seeing you at these events!
John Olson, President
Tommolino, Salvador Dali’s “Un Chien Anadalou” and The Morning Pages (LIVE)
Posted on 19. Aug, 2009 by AdamWallace in Arts, Community
On Thursday August 20, 2009 join us for a very special evening of great art, film and music. Damon Tommolino opens the evening with an art exhibit that embodies the concentration of time and space of sequential motion.
Tommolino’s solo exhibit is followed by the 1929 short film “Un Chien Adalou,” written by Salvador Dali.
Closing the night, The Morning Pages play live what Time Out NY writes, “Rootsy combo the Morning Pages is based in Brooklyn but delivers a pleasingly vintage, warm, country-rock sound that’s far more suggestive of Nashville. ”
6 PM Tommolino Opening Reception
9 PM Special Screenig of “Un Chien Andalou” written by Salvador Dali (16 minutes)
10 PM Live Music by The Morning Pages
The event will be held in the 16th floor Solaruim of the Roger Smith Hotel, 501 Lexington Ave. (at 47th st).
Suggested donation of $5
Eclectic Method – LIVE at The Roger Smith Hotel 8/21
Posted on 19. Aug, 2009 by AdamWallace in Community, Hotel
We are very excited to announce that Ecelctic Method will be preforming LIVE here at the Roger Smith Hotel!
Friday, August 21, 2009 at 8:00pm
$15 Entry / Free Bulldog Gin Bar + Cash Bar
Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington Ave. (at 47th st)
Eclectic Method’s kinetic live shows splice music, film, TV and videogames into a body-rocking audiovisual concoction that gets clubbers hopping and synapses popping.
The Tarantino Mixtape
