Welcome to our February Newsletter!
Robin in Snow by Cressida, age 5 (©2020, Royal Academy of Arts young artists, UK)
In Search of Beethoven Still Streaming on our Website!
Don’t forget to tune in to our most recent concert, “In Search of Beethoven,” performed live last month in Brattleboro, VT and filmed in Cambridge, MA. Sarasa portrays a wonderful mixture of composers who influenced and pointed the young Beethoven along his own path of ingenuity and innovation. It is streaming on our website for another 2 weeks! Many Sarasa fans have sent us feedback on how much they enjoyed discovering the music of the lesser known composer, Emmanuel Aloïs Förster, a close friend and confidante of Beethoven. We will definitely explore more of his music in the seasons to come!
And an enormous thank you for the generous donations you have sent in, enabling us to continue our programming!
March Concert-Set to Bathe Us in the Glow of Mozart’s Humanity
Sarasa is very excited to be performing one of Mozart’s most incredible works of chamber music, his Divertimento in E-flat major, KV 563 for string trio for our next concert-set in March. Composed in 1788, this 6-movement work showcases every element we admire so much in Mozart: elegance, wit, pathos, virtuosity, profundity, earthiness and humour. We are calling it “Beauty through Adversity” due to the fact that Mozart’s brilliance and genius shine through this piece, despite all of the obstacles he faced that year: penury, the death of his baby daughter and a dismissive public, unwilling to schedule a performance of his recently penned (and which turned out to be his final) three symphonies, Nos. 39-41. As we each face individual difficulties during these extraordinary times, Mozart’s music can help lift our spirits, and remind us of the healing powers of music on all levels.
Beauty through Adversity: Mozart’s Divertimento in E-flat major, KV 563 for string trio
Katherine Winterstein, violin, Jenny Stirling, viola, Jennifer Morsches, cello
Friday, March 12, 2021 at 5-6pm & 7.30-8.30pm Brattleboro Music Center, Brattleboro, VT www.bmcvt.org
Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 7.30-8.30pm Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church, Cambridge, MA
Streaming on www.sarasamusic.org from Saturday, March 20th at 7.30pm! Please join us and share with your friends.
Seats are limited in both venues, and all Covid-19 protocols will be in place. We will keep you informed as local governments update us on indoor live events! #staysafe
(Our original program for March, “Romaticism Unleashed,” will be rescheduled at a future date!)
Mozart in 1789; Silverpoint drawing by Dora Stock (1759-1832)
Wie ist die Suppe heute? (What kind of soup is on for today?)
Mozart travelled to Dresden in 1789, where he played the viola part (his preferred string instrument) in the first performance of his trio, the Divertimento in E-flat major. While in the Saxon capital he met Dora Stock, who drew the above portrait of him. He frequented her brother-in-law’s home, where Mozart serenaded the family on the piano-forte instead of sitting down to dinner, recounted here:
"In the adjoining room the table would be set, the soup brought in and the servant announced that dinner was served. But who could get up and leave when Mozart was playing the piano! The soup was allowed to get cold; the roast was burnt so that we could all continue to hear the magical sounds produced on the instrument by the master who was completely lost in himself and unaware of what was going on around him. However, in the end even the most supreme musical pleasure can become a strain when the stomach starts rumbling. After the soup had been allowed to go cold a few times during Mozart's playing, it was decided to take action. Doris gently placed her snow-white arm on his shoulder and said 'Mozart, we are going to dine. Do you want to eat with us?' 'I kiss your hand, madam, I'll be there very soon!' But the one person who did not come was Mozart. He continued to play as if nothing had happened. And, as Doris related, we often had the most select dinner music played by Mozart to accompany us as we ate. After dinner we found him still sitting at the piano." (Gustav Parthey, Memoirs of My Youth)
February is a good month for a Hearty SOUP or STEW!
Engraving from title page of 1604 edition of Marx Rumpolt cookbook. Sächsische Landesbibliothek
Stay warm and see you in March!
Did you know that you can generate donations while shopping for your valentine, at no extra cost?
Simply start your shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/04-3540519 to confirm "Sarasa Inc" as your charity of choice, and AmazonSmile will donate a portion of your eligible purchase price to our organization.
