“Berlin to Buenos Aires” preview- Tradition, tango and toast; the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players at City Winery

Alan Snow, Andrew Snow, and Beatriz Helguera-Snow
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Chicago Philharmonic opens their 2018 chamber season: a musical journey across the world.

Sunday, January 21st, 2018, noon-1:00, City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago

The Chi Phil Chamber Players invite audiences to ring in the New Year in a rich celebration of classical music with Berlin to Buenos Aires. The audiences at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph, Chicago can get warm with delicious brunch, coffee, and drinks while the virtuosic Chamber Players heat them up further with an international program featuring pieces by Mendelssohn, Piazzolla, and Kreisler.

Program:

– Felix Mendelssohn Trio in D Minor for violin, cello and piano Op. 49

– Astor Piazzolla Histoire du Tango – Café 1930 and Nightclub 1960

-Fritz Kreisler Miniature Viennese March

Performers:

Alan Snowviolin

Andrew Snowcello

Beatriz Helguera-Snowpiano

Mendelssohn and Piazzolla are two of the greatest and most popular composers of their time and place. Hamburg born, Berlin raised and trained, the well-traveled Mendelssohn was well received throughout Europe as a composer, conductor and soloist. The Trio in D minor is a lively and melodic piece in the Romantic-era tradition; it’s considered one of his greatest chamber works and inspired Schumann to assert that “Mendelssohn is the Mozart of the nineteenth century, the most illuminating of musicians.”

The beloved Piazzolla traces the history of the Argentinian tango through the 20th century in Histoire du Tango, with the Chamber Players making stops in 1930 and 1960. In the café, the tango shakes off its traditional high-spirited liveliness to become slower, more romantic. But by 1960, the music of Brazil and Argentina meld together in Buenos Aires. The new tango moves to the beat of the bossa nova and continues a journey of evolution.

Also included in the program is a brief trip to Vienna with Fritz Kreisler’s Miniature Viennese March. Regarded as one of the greatest violin masters of all time, Austrian-born Kreisler also traveled widely and spent time living in Berlin and Paris before settling down in New York City. The March, his slice of nostalgia for the magical warmth of his childhood in Vienna at the turn of the century, is a delightful detour on our musical trip.

Andrew Snow, cellist; Alan Snow, violinist, and Beatriz Helguera-Snow, pianist

INTERVIEW WITH PIANIST BEATRIZ HELGUERA-SNOW:

This reviewer had the opportunity to speak with Beatriz Helguera-Snow about performing with her husband, cellist Andrew Snow and son, violinist Alan Snow, in the upcoming program, and we also discussed the musical offerings. Beatriz and Andrew’s daughter, Elena, who took the photos for this article, is also a musician, a renowned mezzo-soprano. Beatriz’ warm and candid remarks are paraphrased here:

“Its wonderful to work with my family”, confided the pianist, “but it wasn’t planned that way. My husband and I actually warned our children about the challenges of the music profession. When they showed real interest of course we supported them all the way. They were surrounded by music all their lives, they were both gifted, and now that they are both professionals, it’s very enjoyable when we can find the time to perform together”.

As to the selections for the upcoming concert, Helguera-Snow noted, “The Chicago Philharmonic wanted a trio and we all worked on the program. In general, we like to select different styles and types of music, to take the audience on a journey. The Mendelsohn D minor trio is one of the greatest trios ever written, not only in the Romantic period, but of the entire trio repertoire; it’s truly magnificent. I honestly think the second movement can be said to represent all the beauty in the world”.

Of the music of Piazzolla, as a fellow Latin musician, she said, “As a Mexican pianist, I feel it is not only my duty to program music by Latin American composers, but it is also music very close to my heart. Piazzolla is of course well-known and beloved all over the world. However, this wonderful piece, of which we will perform 2 of the 4 sections, is not as widely performed, is the only work we will play not scored for a trio, and will highlight Alan’s violin playing.”

As to the finale, Helguera-Snow noted, “The Kriesler is a very short and very delightful piece. We chose it as a salute to the Chicago Philharmonic, to tie it into their last concert, A Salute to Vienna, and to end the concert on an optimistic note for the New Year”.

The artist closed with the observation, “The City Winery is a very pleasant venue for performers and audience alike.”

 

Berlin to Buenos Aires: Tradition, Tango and Toast

Doors open at 10:30 am and food and drink will be available for purchase before and during the performance

Approximate performance time 1 hour.

Tickets $25 | Students $10 *

Photos by Elena Snow

 

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