| by Corina Petcu
NINE O' CLOCK
BUCHAREST - This spring, Bucharest will play host to the first
edition of a new classical music festival between 17-22 April, organized
by the "Shumsky" Foundation. Shumsky Music Fest is characterized
by several elements. One of the latter is the fact that it is organized
from private funds and it is a private initiative. Another particular
element is the fact that the foreign musicians invited to perform in Bucharest
will also teach musical skill courses for the pupils of the music lyceums
and for the students. The courses will take place in the Alba Iulia Hall
of the National Military Circle, they are free and obviously open to the
young musicians from other cities of the country.
The concerts will be also performed in the elegant halls of the
National Military Circle. The opening will take place in the afternoon
of 17 April, between 16.00 h. and 20.00 h, when several young |
Romanian musicians will also perform
in these halls. Moreover, a fine arts and photo exhibition will be opened
the same day, as well. The second concert will take place in the evening
of 19 April, and will performed by the Amernet American quartet. The official
closing has been scheduled for 22 April. Performing on this occasion will
be the Shumsky Festival Orchestra conducted by Eric Shumsky with the American
violin player Joshua Epstein who will perform in his capacity as soloist
Beethoven's concerto for violin. The festival orchestra will be made of
young Romanian musicians aged between 18 and 25 years, the final selection
for the ensemble being due to take place by mid-March.
Shumsky Foundation carries out an intense activity aimed at supporting
the young Romanian musicians who are also involved in this festival as participants.
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The Foundation set up in memory
of the great American violinist Oscar Shumsky intends among other things,
to preserve the historic recordings left by great musicians and promote
the latter's remarkable artistic achievements. Moreover, other cultural
missions assumed by it is the boosting of the talented young musicians,
the organization of public concerts and artistic skill courses for pupils
and students.
David Oistrach called Oscar Shumsky "one of the greatest
violinists of the world." his colleagues considering him a musician
of the level of Kreisler or Heifetz. His son, violist Eric Shumsky, is
the soul of this foundation and the initiator of the festival. Shumsky
Music Fest - 2004 is meant to mark the beginning of a tradition, being
turned into an annual festival, a landmark of Bucharest musical concert
life. |
