Johann Sebastian BACH: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 Beth Levin, piano.
" Create beauty, then erase it. Secco attacks at the start of No. IV (a favorite) turn into a deliciously pointed march. Dynamics serve structure, and the proportions are so right that I crave a repeat before the headlong velocity of No. V blots it out. Levin executes that about as rapidly as possible while retaining melodic shape (not a concern for many players)."
— from Beth Levin's Live(ly) Goldberg by Walt Mundkowsky, for La Folia
The American pianist, Beth Levin is an acclaimed concerto soloist,
recitalist, chamber musician and recording artist. On May 1st, 2008 her
performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations was released on Centaur
Recordings, a return to a composer in “the first repertoire I had
studied as a child.”
At age 12, Levin made her debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and
soon after was selected to study with Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis
Institute of Music. “Mr. Serkin was an inspiration the moment he walked
into a room,” Levin recalls, “a single word evoking the eloquence of a
poem.”
As a concerto soloist, Levin has appeared with The Philadelphia
Orchestra, The Boston Pops Orchestra, The Boston Civic Symphony, The
Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and numerous other symphony orchestras
throughout the Americas, working with noted conductors such as William
Smith, Arthur Fiedler, Benjamin Zander, Tonu Kalam, Sidney Rothstein,
Milton Katims, Silas Huff and Joseph Silverstein.
Levin made her New York solo recital debut in 1982 at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art. Chamber music festival collaborations brought her to the
Marlboro Festival, Casals Festival, Harvard, The Edinburgh Fringe
Festival, the Ankara Music Festival and the Blue Hill Festival. As a
“Music From Marlboro” artist, she toured the United States and Canada. A
founding member of the Gramercy Trio, The American Arts Trio and Vista
Lirica, Levin has also collaborated with The Audubon Quartet, the
Vermeer Quartet, The Reykjavik Woodwind Quintet, The Daniel Quartet, The
Boston Artists Ensemble and The Saratoga Chamber Players, as well as
touring Europe extensively with Trio Borealis.
In 2004, Levin traveled with Poetica Musica under the auspices of the
U.S. State Department, performing and giving master classes in Croatia,
Serbia and Turkey.
Levin’s recordings and radio broadcasts include Schubert's Wanderer
Fantasy and Scott Wheeler's Artist Proofs, both of which were
released for the Taubman Institute Recordings. For Columbia Masterworks,
she recorded the Hummel “Quintet in D Minor.” Her performances have been
broadcast on National Public Radio, WGBH (Boston), WFMT (Chicago) and
WNYC, WNYE and WQXR (New York).
As a soloist, chamber musician and interpreter of contemporary music,
Levin performed and recorded works by Alan Campbell, Marc Eychenne,
Brian Fennelly, Steven R. Gerber, Alexander Goretzky, Louis Karchin,
Michael Rose, David Ludwig, Edward Poll, Allen Shearer, Scott Wheeler
and David Del Tredici.
Her training began with Maryan Filar at the Settlement Music School in
Philadelphia, and in addition to Rudolf Serkin, her teachers included
Leonard Shure at Boston University and Dorothy Taubman in New York City.
Praise for Beth Levin:
“...Ms. Levin kept the ear engaged with boldly inflected readings and an
impressive ability to convey emotion without exhibition. Her technique
was solid, and better still, her organic approach made it feel like an
afterthought.” Jeremy Eichler, The New York Times
"Over the years, Levin has transformed herself. The flame within still
burns with undimmed intensity, but now there is warmth as well as
blinding light." Richard Dyer, The Boston Globe
"A pianist of rare qualities and the highest professional caliber. I was
deeply impressed and moved by her performance at the last Marlboro
Festival." Paul Badura-Skoda
Ananias was a Christ disciple in Damascus, to whom Jesus came in a vision and gave detailed instructions including what street (Straight Street) and what house (Judas' house) to go to in order to lay hands on Saul so that Saul would receive his sight back. Jesus was telling Ananias to go help the man who came to town to throw him in prison and would like to murder him. Wow, what an instruction and what a step of obedience by a Christ follower!
Straight Street (or in Latin, Via Recta), is the Roman street that runs from east to west in the old city of Damascus. It was visited by St. Paul as mentioned in the story of Paul's conversion to Christianity in Acts 9:10-19
Ananias Chapel in the basement of the Ananias house, Damascus
When Ananias arrives, he specifically addresses Saul as “brother”. What an example of the love and forgiveness that are fruit of a Christ follower’s life. Saul received his sight after Ananias (his enemy) laid his hands on him and he followed Christ that day.
This Syrian village, Saidnaya, where houses are built around a rock with a very old convent at the top, is considered a place for religious pilgrimage.
A steep climb is the only way up to the convent, which is said to date back to the Emperor Justinian.
Legend has it that the Virgin Mary appeared to Justinian and asked him to found the convent.
After entering through a maze of passages, you finally reach the Chapel of the Virgin. The walls are covered with beautiful icons including one said to have been painted by St. Luke.
This chapel was very famous to Christians and at one point was the second Christian place of pilgrimage after Jerusalem, the crusaders called it "Notre Dame de Sardeneye".
Greetings and love from Syria
Nabeel
Hi Beth, Indian Summer for now, temps reaching 70's, but I'm already sorting out my sweaters, scarves and earmuffs (can't do without them), better be prepare than sorry...also time to start baking more often, pumpkin/nut bread to start with :) Have a great performance on 25th! ~IWO
Forever and a day is how long I will love you
Until the sky turns green and the moon can't be seen
I will love you until the seas of time run dry
Until all eyes go blind and can no longer cry
No matter what you ever say or do
I'll be by your side, with you abide
Until horses have two legs and cows lay eggs
Until 5001, then some, I will love you
Until up is down and hot is cold
Until cowards turn brave and bold
Until the day is dark and night is light
Until dogs forget how to bite
That's how long I will love you
Well, any way I will love you
Just as long as you love me
So let's just let matters be.
(Norma Duncan ~aka~Mistymaiden)
I invite you to accompany me, hand-in-hand, along that divine path which leads to eternal love. It is a journey that we may make together; sharing our tears and fears along the way. Join me and we shall experience the Love of God where hope never dies, compassion never sleeps, and love is, indeed, eternal.
Hi Beth, how are you? I see new performances are on your way, so great to see you're in a top shape. I'm writing my new pieces, some with my students in mind, I'm trying to break their repertoire with something more current, but still from classical approach. Fall in the full bloom...I can believe it's going to be again almost a half a year of cold, brrrr....wish to have another place in a warmer climate, maybe when I retired :) Hope all is well with you and I'm wishing you much success with your shows! ~IWO Pumpkin Plaza/Hounted House theater in the middle of the city
I literally lived at the library as a child... first the West Oak Lane Branch, where Mrs. Robinson made recommendations and eventually allowed me to access the adult section... what a big deal that was! And of course the main branch as soon as I was able to take the train in to town. The buzz is that the state may intervene on Wednesday, but apparently the odds are against this happening as the powers that be have been unable to come to any sort of agreement thus far. PA is apparently the only state that has not been able to produce a budget because of partisan contention. Closure of the libraries is inconceivable but time will tell... so much of what is taking place in the world is within the realm of "never before."
Aunt Naomi was doing well at home with assistance... she had just dropped the night-time aide... when yesterday the almost-healed wound site starting weeping. She's back in the hospital on Wednesday to determine what is causing the seepage. This all comes from releasing patients prematurely... IMHO.
Me & Dmitri are well, thank you very much... right now we're waiting for Comcast to install the new digital equipment. The appointment was for 11:00 to 13:00 and it's now 13:24. You'll have this. ;)) Please promise that you'll take me to Abercrombie and Fitch after I become an official New Yorker. I love to shop! Rosh Hashanah is almost here... can't believe it... and can't believe I say the same thing every year. ;)) I expect you will be in hostess mode and I'm sure it will be a joyous holiday for both you and your family. More soon, but hugs and kisses right now...
We are proud to present our current album "True Fidelity". Electro-acoustic chillout, lounge and easy-listening well mixed and always ready to surprise you. We hope you enjoy our work. Further we wanna thank your for your support so far and give away 5 songs of our album!
We are proud to present our current album "True Fidelity". Electro-acoustic chillout, lounge and easy-listening well mixed and always ready to surprise you.
We hope you enjoy our work. Further we wanna thank your for your support so far and wish you a nice week!
Hi Beth Thank you, Yes the summer is a good one so far, I have done 1 exhibition in Marbella and 1 in Positano ( Amalfi coast) Italy. Now I am preparing for a few exhibitions this fall in Malaga and Hamburg. Then I have a few paintings that will be on a tour in The USA with 20 other artists it will go to 12 cities across The USA during this fall. How is Your Summer? Lots of Piano?? Feel free to upload any picture by me at Facebook. I will send you a message with my email, if you want to add me at Facebook All the best Johan W
Thank you for stopping by. I see you have a performance coming up soon, what repertoire? I'm busy with my pieces, remodeling house, gardening a little or sometimes letting it grow, reading, dog walking:) Finally the hot and humid is here...no comments ~Iwo The latest attraction in the city...I might join them!
I have always found thick woods a little intimidating, for they are so secret and enclosed. You may seem alone but you are not, for there are always eyes watching you. All the wildlife of the woods, the insects, birds, and animals, are well aware of your presence no matter how softly you may tread, and they follow your every move although you cannot see them. - Thalassa Cruso
