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Season 7 Opener Featured in All Arts and Broadway World!
Featured on All Arts
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD TO THE SEASON OPENER OF THE DAVID OEI CLASSICAL SALON
On Aug. 28, at 3 p.m., the David Oei Classical Salon returns for its seventh season with an all-star lineup of extraordinary musicians performing an eclectic program of gorgeous music, from Lili Boulanger to Richard Strauss, with some toe-tapping, hum-inducing themes from “The Wizard of Oz” in between, at the acoustically beautiful St. John’s in the Village located at 218 W. 11th St.
5 FREE EVENTS: HABIBI FESTIVAL AND DAVID OEI CLASSICAL SALON
AUGUST 25, 2022
Looking for something to do? Here is a selection of free events taking place in New York City this weekend.
AUG. 28
When: Aug. 28; 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: St. John’s in the Village
The David Oei Classical Salon returns for its seventh season with an all-star lineup of musicians performing an eclectic program — from Lili Boulanger to Richard Strauss, with some familiar themes from “The Wizard of Oz” in between — at the acoustically majestic St. John’s in the Village.
Featured on Broadway World
In Concert: THE WIZARD OF OZ FANTASY Comes to St. John's In The Village This Month
The concert will take place on Sunday, August 28, 3pm.
by Stephi Wild Aug. 11, 2022
Renowned concert pianists Donna Weng Friedman and David Oei are celebrating the 83rd anniversary of The Wizard of Oz world premiere and official release by performing a toe-tapping, hum-inducing virtuoso piano duet called The Wizard of Oz Fantasy, written by William Hirtz. The concert will take place on Sunday, August 28, 3pm at St. John's in the Village located at 218 West 11th Street. If you loved the movie (and who doesn't?) you won't want to miss this musical trip down nostalgia lane!
On August 12, 1939, The Wizard of Oz received its world premiere at the Strand Theater in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and on August 25th, 1939, the film was released in theaters throughout the U.S. Later that year, the movie was nominated for six Academy Awards, losing out to another film classic, Gone with the Wind, for best picture. However, it won two Oscars, one for "Over the Rainbow" for Best Song, and the other for Best Musical Score. With Judy Garland's extraordinary voice leading an incredible cast singing Harold Arlen's unforgettable tunes, the rest, as they say, is movie music history.
About the Wizard of Oz Fantasy for one piano, four hands, composer William Hirtz has this to say "One of the challenges of composing a piano transcription is making sure the excerpt that is chosen is pianistic. For instance, my favorite comedy song in the movie, 'If I Were King Of The Forest' just didn't work on the piano. The goofy vibrato Bert Lahr uses on the word 'Forest' was impossible, at least for me to do justice to via the keyboard."
Hirtz continues "Often, beautiful melodies comprised of long sustained notes, do not translate well either. Luckily, 'Over The Rainbow' sounds very pianistic. The two longest notes over the opening words, 'Some-where', are well within the pianos' expressive range. Then it becomes important to add counter melodies in the accompaniment while those long notes are held."
The "Oz Fantasy" has been a popular addition to the virtuoso repertoire since its commission in 2000 and has been performed on 6 continents. Apparently, it has yet to be performed in Antarctica. The reason? Hirtz quipped that it might have something to do with the unbearably freezing cold weather there :)
Friedman and Oei will be performing the Wizard of Oz Fantasy on Sunday, August 28, 3pm as part of the David Oei Classical Salon. The program will also feature music by Lili Boulanger, Francis Poulenc, Charles Ives and Richard Strauss performed by an all-star roster of classical musicians: violinist Eriko Sato, violist Kimberly Foster, cellist Daire FitzGerald , and clarinetist Amalie Wyrick-Flax.
For more information, please visit www.davidoeiclassicalsalon.com
Lineup Set For The Season Opener of the David Oei Classical Salon This Weekend at St. John's In The Village
The performance is on August 28 at 3pm.
by Stephi Wild Aug. 22, 2022
On August 28th, Sunday afternoon at 3pm, the David Oei Classical Salon (DOCS) returns for its seventh season with an all-star line-up of extraordinary musicians performing an eclectic program of gorgeous music, from Lili Boulanger to Richard Strauss, with some toe-tapping, hum-inducing themes from the Wizard of Oz in between. Join violinist Eriko Sato, violist Kimberly Foster, cellist Daire FitzGerald , clarinetist Amalie Wyrick-Flax, and pianists Donna Weng Friedman and David Oei for an afternoon of chamber music in the acoustically beautiful St. John's in the Village church located at 218 West 11th Street.
David Oei, concert pianist, founder and artistic director of the series, started DOCS back in August 2015 at the invitation of Spike Wilner, owner of the Mezzrow Jazz Club. Oei wanted to establish a chamber music environment where his wife, renowned violinist Eriko Sato (co-concertmaster of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra of St. Luke's) and he could collaborate with old and new colleagues and cultivate a musically collegial community. Oei created this monthly concert series where the performing artists of each concert decided on the programs, rehearsal times and dress codes. Oei enthused- "In other words, I wanted to create a musical haven where the artists were in control."
Oei also wanted a series where anyone could afford to attend. "Couldn't quite do that at the jazz club. But after over a year of the pandemic I was able to move the series to its present location at the invitation of Father Graeme Napier, and with a donations-only format, this last wish was finally realized."
For more information about the series please visit: www.davidoeiclassicalsalon.com
Program for August 28, 3pm
Lili Boulanger Nocturne, Cortege, violin and piano
Eriko Sato, violin
Donna Weng Friedman, piano
Charles Ives Largo for clarinet and piano
Amalie Wyrick-Flax, clarinet
David Oei, piano
Francis Poulenc: Sonata for clarinet and piano
Amalie Wyrick-Flax, clarinet
David Oei, piano
William Hirtz, Wizard of Oz Fantasy, piano, four hands
Donna Weng Friedman, piano
David Oei, piano
Richard Strauss Piano Quartet
Eriko Sato, violin
Kimberly Foster, viola
Daire FitzGerald, cello
David Oei, piano