Kind Words from Our Audience and Partners
From John A. Dunn Jr. and Patricia Van Doren Dunn, Jackson NH
To Linda and Carlos Galvan, Omar Guey, and Evelyn Zuckerman
November 14, 2011
Dear Cameratans,
Wow! What a wonderful evening you gave us last Saturday! I still have the Mendelssohn echoing deep inside me.
We are grateful for your presences, your graciousness to all our guests, the lift and drive of the music you presented, and your easy companionability. We know that this effort was something of a “loss leader” for Camerata as you build you reputation for excellent chamber music around northern New England, and we enjoyed being the beneficiaries!
Patti and I always especially enjoy the period before the concert when the musicians are warming up, refining the way they will tackle the music, laughing and getting comfortable in the space.
Evelyn, your introductory comments were interesting and helpful. I knew something about the development of keyboard instruments, and about the transition from baroque to classical to romantic music—but I had never really made the connection—delicate instruments for delicate music, robust ones for heart-felt expression!
The Mozart trio was a piece I had not heard. It was graceful, light, but with a limited dynamic range. I enjoyed the clever ending to the second movement. Somehow it seemed to me that the piano was doing most of the work; Omar, your violin part was delightful but not assertive; and Linda, Mozart only gave your cello an accompanying role.
You three play superbly well together. One of the joys of hearing great music in a small venue is being close enough to watch the minute signals the musicians give each other occasionally during each of the pieces, coordinating the timing and emphases. (And Belle, thanks for the page-turning which made it possible for Evelyn to tear along at full tilt!)
The Mendelssohn Second Piano Trio just made the evening. I have never heard an audience here so totally absorbed, or a rush of gorgeous sound so overwhelming. Mendelssohn’s melodic gift, his virtuosic writing and your virtuosic playing, the hugely wider dynamic range the piano and modern violins and cellos made possible—all swept us along. Linda, you made the cello sing, deeply, romantically, movingly. Evelyn, you took us through slow, sensitive moments, and then through furious rushes of sound. Omar, your violin played the perfect partner, leading, then blending.
The first movement of the Mendelssohn is almost a concert piece by itself in its richness, length and complexity—but I’m glad he didn’t stop there. The weaving of harmony of the violin and the cello at the beginning of the second movement was enchanting. The third movement I have never heard taken so breathtakingly fast, but you handled it convincingly. And in the middle of the fourth movement, I was struck by the way Mendelssohn took the music down to fragments—piano alone; then a scrap for the piano and violin; then a parallel scrap for the piano and cello—before bringing them all back together into a sweeping, emotionally satisfying conclusion. As I said, wow!
You drew a good crowd, and they loved it, as I hope and believe they made clear to you both in their appreciative applause and in their comments after the performance.
I hope you all know how important these concerts are to Mountain Top Music. They generate immediate financial support for the school, helping us to continue to provide music education for 300-400 students each semester. And they attract a number of friends over the years who come to know and care for the school and for what music can offer at its very best.
Literally, the school could not do it without you! We look forward to hearing you again!
Appreciatively,
John and Patti
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Letter to the Editor, Valley News, Thursday, May 20, 2010
When we moved to the Upper Valley in 2001, our friends in the Boston area openly questioned how we would get along, knowing our strong interest in music. I had worked for the Walnut Hill School for the Arts and was a devoted member of the Boston Philharmonic Board.
We have particularly enjoyed Opera North and occasional concerts at Dartmouth and in the Lebanon Opera House. A recent Friday, however, was the best. Camerata New England gave a truly exquisite program of Russian music, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich, in the Lebanon Opera House.
I can only hope Valley News readers will be on the lookout for future performances, and spread the word that this group is not to be missed!
Lola Baldwin
Canaan, NH
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On behalf of the GNWCA, I wanted to express our thanks for bringing the NE Camerata to Colebrook. I know that everyone in attendance was simply thrilled with the evening's performance. Many people expressed their appreciation and commented that they hope this is the start of more performances coming to the north country. I'm sure word of mouth from the attendees will be positive and foster continued interest. Thank you to everyone involved who made this possible.
Best regards,
Bette Guerin
Board of Directors
Greater North Woods Committee for the Arts
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Letter from Sean Hunley of The Cultural Center at Eagle Hill, December 28, 2009
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Letter to the Editor, Valley News, April 21, 2009
What a pleasure it was to hear the last concert of our own Hanover Chamber Orchestra. Last concert? Yes! Because the orchestra has a mission to serve more than just the Upper Valley. Board Chairman Carlos Galvan recently announced the new name: Camerata New England.
What that means is that more high-quality music from gift professional musicians will be performed throughout New England in the years to come. What thrilled us in the last series (performing in Lebanon, Plymouth, and Whitefield, N.H.) was the wonderful outreach program for children in our North Country area. more than 1,000 schoolchildren and their teachers were introduced to this beautiful music, and these children were able to talk to these musicians and get a sense of the instruments they play. Important professional-development connections were made for the teachers.
After the outreach, these children enjoyed what for many was their first professional concert performance. This combination of programs and services will bring classical music into hard-to-reach communities throughout Northern New England, and it will expose children to music in a very personal way.
We're convinced that through programs such as these our Camerata (defined as a small and intimate group) will continue providing wonderful music and introducing children to it in these most difficult times. Camerata New England extended help to North Country families who have lost jobs by offering them free tickets for the concert earlier this month.
When the fall program comes our way, I hope you and your friends will come out to enjoy what Camerata has to offer and cherish the gifts it gives your soul.
Closey and Whit Dickey
Lebanon, N.H.
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Thanks... for a truly inspiring concert last Friday night in Whitefield. We were so taken by the level of professionalism, talent, and enthusiasm -- and were truly moved by the whole experience.
Carlos, I sat in the concert and wept, not just for the beauty of the music, but for the generosity of time and effort to bring such an incredible opportunity to the North Country. The entire project is overwhelming to me for all lthat you, Dan, and HCO have brought and (care enough to) continue to bring to us. ...
Christine Charman
Executive Director, Upper Connecticut Valley Community Coalition
Colebrook, N.H.
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I attended your concerts in Whitefield, NH and recently in Plymouth. Kudos on the effort to bring good music to the North Country.
Victoria Cole
Pittsburgh, PA and Franconia, NH
