Concerts on Kentmere: The Pyxis Piano Quartet

From left: Amy Leonard, Hiroko
Yamazaki, Meredith Amado, Jie Jin

When classical music comes to the Delaware Art Museum, it's an event not to be missed. For the most recent Concert on Kentmere, the world-class Pyxis Piano Quartet graced the museum's main entry space, under a new (to DAM) piece of artwork, Paul Bocuse's World (1977) by Red Grooms. The wit and whimsy of the giant shadowbox-style piece, set in a restaurant kitchen, both contrasted the music and conformed to it -- the concert series is, after all, "where magnificent art and music come together.

If you're not familiar with the Pyxis Piano Quartet, they are a chamber music ensemble performing traditional and contemporary sonatas, duos, trios and quartets. On this night, the four immensely talented women -- Meredith Amado on violin, Jie Jin on cello, Amy Leonard on viola, and Hiroko Yamazaki on piano, performed three pieces: A duo on viola and cello, a trio on violin, cello, and piano, and, finally, a quartet featuring all four together.

The first two pieces were relatively obscure and contemporary, and classicly avante-garde. American Walter Piston's (1894-1976) Duo (for viola and cello) is an optimistic piece laced with distinctively American half-steps. Russian Dmitri Shostakovich's (1906-1975) Piano Trio in e minor, Op. 67 is a haunting an complex tale of sorrow and hope, written in 1944, with references to Soviet oppression, the discovery of extermination camps in Poland, and the recent death of a friend. The powerful piece, in turns dark and folkishly upbeat, was a highlight of the evening.

The final piece was more well-known: Piano Quartet in g minor, K 478 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is chamber music at its finest, with an interesting backstory. The piece, written in a couple of days by Mozart for a paycheck, was a failure initially -- it was simply too complicated for the amateur musicians who played chamber music at home with friends for entertainment. Eventually, in the hands of more skilled musicians, it became one of Mozart's most beloved pieces of chamber music.

While visiting the museum for the concert, be sure to explore the open gallery. On this evening, guests could experience the wonderful State of the Art, Illustration 100 Years After Howard Pyle, featuring some of the most revered illustrators in contemporary art.

For information on upcoming Concerts on Kentmere, visit delart.org/prog_events/concerts_on_kentmere.
For upcoming Pyxis dates, visit pyxispianoquartet.com/concerts.html.

An Enchanting Evening at the Ballet

First State Ballet Theatre ended its 2012 – 13 season with a delightful production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The production is the company’s contribution to Delaware’s “Year of the Bard” festival (Delaware’s statewide Shakespeare festival, featuring drama, opera, ballet, choral and chamber music, film, poetry readings, humor and more).

                                                                                

The FSBT’s sumptuous production transported the audience to an enchanted forest where a group of fairies wreak havoc and two human couples – Helena (Andrea Olazgasti), Demetrius (Jake Nowicki), Hermia (Emily Shenaut), and Lysander (Ethan Hunter Raysor) – frolic and fall in and out of love.

The basis of the piece is that we all make asses out of ourselves when it comes to love.  This theme is especially highlighted as the King of the fairies, Oberon (Alex Buckner) quarrels with the beautiful Queen of the Fairies, Titania, (Mary Kate Reynolds) over ownership of a changeling child. Oberon casts a spell on Tatiana, making her fall in love with an ass named Bottom — actually an actor passing through the forest whose head Oberon has transformed into a donkey head. To the dismay of her fairy court, Titania cannot be swayed from loving Bottom, even though he’s an ass.   Interesting and hilarious commentary, indeed!  However, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, not one of his tragedies, so rest assured the ballet ends happily!

All of the lead performers executed the choreography by Mr. Buckner with great precision, strength and skill. I’m always amazed and excited to watch ballerinas dance on pointe and I was not disappointed by this production. While dry ice engulfed the stage, Ms. Reynolds and the female chorus appeared to float across it when they danced on pointe during a pivotal scene. From intricate positioning to complicated movements, the cast exquisitely danced the piece on a lavish set by Bob Eizember, Maeve Barsczewski, Grosh and Jose Vasquez. The amazing set brought the character of the forest alive as vines took over the vast Grand’s stage. The set was complimented by the whimsical costumes designed by Benefis, Traci Eizember, Joanne Epstein, Diane Fretwell and Page Obara. The production was a true treat for the eye!  

Although this production closed, make sure you purchase tickets for FSBT’s next season. For more information visit www.firststateballet.com and to learn more about the “Year of the Bard” festival visit http://inwilmingtonde.com/events/yearofthebard.

Newark Arts Alliance Welcomes New Director, Dennis Lawson

Newark Arts Alliance Executive Director Dennis Lawson

Delaware Arts Info recently sat down with "newcomer" Dennis Lawson, the new Executive Director of the Newark Arts Alliance.  And, we say "newcomer" with tongue in cheek — Dennis has been a fixture on the Delaware scene for some time, previously holding a position at the Delaware Art Museum before leaving to complete an advanced degree.  Here's a little Q&A we enjoyed with Dennis upon his return to the Delaware arts world...

Welcome back to the area! What brought you back into the Delaware Arts Scene? 

Thanks!  I left my position as Manager of Public Relations at the Delaware Art Museum in 2010 to pursue my MFA in Creative Writing—something I’ve always wanted to do to become a better writer overall.  When I finished the degree, I hoped to get back into the arts.  It’s exciting to see how art can inspire people and enrich their lives. 

What are your immediate and long-term goals for NAA?

One of my immediate goals is to improve communication so the public knows what’s going on here, from our exhibitions and events to our classes and summer camp.  I want people to know this is a place where they can be creative, and I want artists to have their work seen.  We've already started to get our Literary Arts program off the ground, with a monthly Open Mic dedicated to Poetry, Prose and Performance, and new writing classes scheduled for April and May.

Long-term, I want to see the Newark Arts Alliance and the City of Newark as a whole be as successful and vibrant as ever.  I hope to build relationships with local businesses and organizations, increase our offerings to the community, and increase the number of NAA members as well as our levels of fundraising.

What would you say is the strongest asset of NAA? What (if anything) would you change or improve?

Our strongest asset is the great people who are involved as volunteers, artists, teachers and supporters.  The NAA has been going strong for 20 years, thanks to an incredible level of local enthusiasm!

One thing I would change is the perception that some people have of the NAA as a sort of invitation-only club—nothing could be further from the truth! The NAA exists for everyone in the community to be able to appreciate local art and find a creative outlet for themselves and/or their children. 

Here's a situation for you. Arts Patron: "I've never been to the Newark Arts Alliance and don't really know much about it." What is the one thing you would say to this person to draw them in?

NAA is where you can view and purchase art by local artists, and a welcoming location where you or your children can participate in any number of creative events and classes.  Come on in!

  

Who is your favorite renowned visual artist — living or dead, and why? Who is/are your favorite local artist(s)?

My favorite renowned visual artist would have to be Dante Gabriel Rossetti, whose Pre-Raphaelite paintings I discovered while working at the Delaware Art Museum.  His use of poetry helped invite a literary guy like me into his visual works.  And his Lady Lilith is the ultimate femme fatale!

My favorite local artist is my wife, who is quite a woodworker and painter.  But she tends to keep her creative works to herself.  I’ll get her to submit a piece to the NAA someday.

I also want to add that all of the talented local artists who submit works to our exhibitions and gallery shop, and all the great performers who get up in front of the room at our Open Mic, have my appreciation and respect!

See www.newarkartsalliance.org.