The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival

STRAVINSKY
Suite Italienne from Pulcinella

Lynn Harrell, cello; Yuja Wang, piano

Artists' Comments
Festival Artistic Director, Marc Neikrug, is something of an alchemist when it comes to planning the concerts each season. In addition to planning all the music, he knows the artists' characters and their strengths, and the personnel he assembles adds immeasurably to the dynamics of the performances. Kerry Frumkin talked with Marc about the pairing of cellist Lynn Harrell and pianist Yuja Wang for a performance of the Suite Italienne from Stravinsky's ballet, Pulcinella.

Kerry Frumkin talks with Marc about the pairing of cellist Lynn Harrell and pianist Yuja Wang for a performance of the Suite Italienne.

The idea for Pulcinella started when Sergei Diaghilev, impresario of the Ballet Russes, asked Stravinsky to compose a ballet to music by 18th century composer, Giovanni Pergolesi.  The story goes that at first Stravinsky wasn't terribly interested, however he must have grown fond of the Pulcinella score because he rewrote it a number of times.

Marc Neikrug's conversation with Kerry Frumkin about Pulcinella.

 Visit Yuja Wang online and Lynn Harrell on his web page at the Shepard School of Music.

HANDEL
Mi palpita il cor

Courtenay Budd, soprano; Allan Vogel, oboe; Lynn Harrell, cello; Kathleen McIntosh, harpsichord

Artists' Comments
Here's what harpsichordist and year-round Santa Fe resident Kathleen McIntosh had to say about the Festival and some of the musicians she has collaborated with here.

Kathleen McIntosh talks about the Santa Fe Chamber Festival and some of the musicians she has collaborated with

Kathleen McIntosh explains that role of the harpsichord in the ensemble is "to provide glue for the group."

 For more information, visit the artists' webpages: Kathleen McIntosh, Courtenay Budd, and Allan Vogel.

JOSEF SUK
4 Pieces for Violin & Piano, Op. 17

Pinchas Zukerman, violin; Marc Neikrug, piano

Artists' Comments
''Pinky and I were friends before we started traveling together,'' said Mr. Neikrug, explaining their long association. ''We travel easily, and then, you know, he has his thing - the violin and the conducting - and I have my composing. We go off by ourselves and do these other things, and when we come back together, we feel recharged and renewed.''

 Read more about Marc Niekrug's double life as a pianist and composer in an August 1987 New York Times article by Bernard Holland.