Thirteen years ago, violinist Gidon Kremer founded the Kremerata Baltica, made up of young musicians from his native Latvia, as well as the neighboring states of Estonia and Lithuania. Since then, the ensemble – led by Kremer himself – has become famous for its crisp, energetic playing and gypsy-like flair.
On Thursday, the Kremerata Baltica stopped by Alice Tully Hall as part of the ongoing White Light Festival to perform a program that combined contemporary Russian works by Lera Auerbach and Giya Kancheli – both written for them - with an orchestration of Beethoven's Op. 131. string quartet. The arrangement, co-written by Kremer himself – managed to amplify Beethoven's startlingly modern music without deadening its texture. The enemble's playing was furious, joyous, and effervescent.
Later on that evening, Russian pianist Alexei Lubmiov played a mixed program of quiet, contemporary works in the Kaplan Penthouse high above Lincoln Center, the first in a series of "Late-Night Elegies" hosted by the White Light Festival. The audience was seated at candlelit tables and offered free wine and San Pellegrino, much like they do at the generous Movado Hour concerts at the Baryshnikov Arts Center. Lubimov held the room spellbound throughout the hour-long concert: a slow, peaceful drift into the night.
Lubmiov will perform all of Schubert's Impromptus in another Late-Night Elegy tonight at 10:30 in the Kaplan Penthouse. Preceding that, the Latvian National Choir will sing music by Bach and Arvo Pärt at Alice Tully Hall, followed by a champagne reception in the lobby. And, yes, you can easily do all three.
More pics on Flickr.
