Author Archives: Christina

Jeffrey Middleton & Raguel Gabriel: SCHWANENGESANG
by Franz Schubert

Live from Merkin Hall NYC
June 12, 2021 at 8Pm. Live Streamed

JOIN EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/518139139355066/

RTG Productions Presents:
Franz Schubert’s Schwanengesang

Trinidadian tenor Raguel Gabriel, and American pianist Jeffrey Middleton, join forces for a virtual, multi-camera livestreamed performance of Schubert’s beloved and unforgettable Schwanengesang, from the concert stage of Merkin Hall in New York City via kaufmanmusiccenter.org on Saturday June 12th at 8 pm. A musical journey searing with a myriad of emotions, Schubert’s final set of songs will be performed in the order as published after his death. Highlights include the famous ‘Standchen’, the turbulent ‘Aufenthalt’ and the bone-chilling masterpiece, ‘Der Doppelganger’.

The program is hosted by Raguel Gabriel and Emilotte Persson.

PROGRAM

Franz Schubert’s Schwanengesang

Liebesbotschaft
Kriegers Ahnung
Frühlingssehnsucht
Ständchen
Aufenthalt
In der Ferne
Abschied
Der Atlas
Ihr Bild
Das Fischermädchen
Die Stadt
Am Meer
Der Doppelgänger
Die Taubenpost

ABOUT SCHWANENGESANG

Schwanengesang is Schubert’s last set of songs written just before his death in 1828 and published posthumously in 1829. The collection, to this day, is considered to be among the greatest and most moving of all his works. The poems set to music by Schubert were written by German poets Ludwig Rellstab, Heinrich Heine and Johann Gabriel Seidl. It is Schubert’s only song set featuring poems written by more than one poet. Despite this, the pieces are connected with an ever present theme of desire with poignant explorations of the human experience, love, lust, heartbreak and resignation.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Raguel Gabriel is a Trinidadian classically trained singer and actor. He studied for many years in his homeland at The Key Academy of Music and Alfred Wallace’s School of Music. His desire for further training in acting took him to LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) and then the Stella Adler Studio of Acting (NYC) where he graduated from the three year professional conservatory. Operatic roles performed on stage include Tamino in Die Zauberflote (Mozart), Hoffmann in Les contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach), Alfred in Die Fledermaus (Strauss II) and Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas (Purcell). He also interpreted musical theatre roles including Tony in West Side Story and Marius in Les Miserables. NYC acting credits include Antonio in The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare), Sorin in The Seagull (Chekov) and the title role in Othello (Shakespeare). He continues to forge a very unique path expressing himself passionately in the areas of both drama and music, as actor and singer. Raguel is currently based in the United States.

Dr. Jeffrey Middleton is an American pianist and musician based in New York City. A graduate of The Juilliard School and Yale School of Music, his varied career includes solo and chamber music performances, vocal coaching, accompanying and teaching. Middleton’s debut recital in 1995 was at the Weill Hall at the prestigious Carnegie Hall where he was presented by Artists International Inc. Career highlights include his critically acclaimed recordings of Book II of Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier (One Soul Records) and ‘Cathay’ a recording of solo piano pieces composed by Joseph Fennimore for Albany Records. Further collaborations with Fennimore include 23 Romances for Piano (2015) and From My Window (2018) also on Albany Records. He has toured Taiwan, Switzerland and South Africa among other countries. In June 2021 Middleton received the Mae L. Wien Faculty Award for distinguished service from the School of American Ballet, from where he is about to retire after thirty six years on the Music Faculty.

Read the Profile in Arts Interview with Jeffrey Middleton HERE

You’re Never Too Old to Play
Workshop Performance

You’re Invited!

Thursday, May 20th
11:30AM-12:30PM
Register here: http://bit.ly/RegistrationMay20

You’re Never Too Old to Play, an improvisational theater workshop for seniors sponsored by the Westbeth Artists Residents Council and supported by Little Island (the new public park opening at 14th Street in Hudson River Park), presents a work-in-progress workshops on Zoom. PigPen Theatre Co., Artists-in-Residence of Little Island, will help us facilitate.

If you’d like to join us, here’s what you need to do:

1. Register here: http://bit.ly/RegistrationMay20
2. Once you’re registered, you will receive an email with instructions from the host of the
webinar with the link to the Presentation. (Be aware that this email might land in your junk mail as spam, because it comes from an unknown sender)

Nancy Gabor initiated ‘You’re Never Too Old to Play’ in 2018, a weekly workshop in the Westbeth Community Room for a diverse group of 17 players from 65 to 95 years old. Paul Binnerts joined Nancy to help develop stories a short time later.

COVID 19 stopped the in-person classes, so the workshop continued on Zoom. The focus was on breathing, playful improvisations, and story development based on our experiences and memories stimulated by the global pandemic.

We are excited to share this work with you and show a sampling of amazing stories.

Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet
Impulso Tanguero

Pedro Giraudo, the Latin Grammy winner bassist and composer, will release his contemporary tango album Impulso Tanguero on May 28, 2021. Performed by his quartet of virtuoso musicians, the album showcases 9 original compositions that take tango beyond genre boundaries while adhering to its rich musical past.

The Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet’s new album is a classic example of Pedro Giraudo’s contemporary tango style which so elegantly and seamlessly crosses over to the world of chamber music.

One of the most compelling tango artists right now, Pedro Giraudo has always been passionate about taking this musical genre into new territories. With immense respect for its roots and rich musical past, he is an active ambassador of tango and a proponent of its evolution. The quartet’s fervent and virtuosic musical style takes elements from Argentine tango, American jazz, and European classical music, and at times even some Brazilian traditions — and combines them gracefully and organically.

The New York City based Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet is composed of four of the most prominent musicians in the tango world: Nick Danielson, violin; Rodolfo Zanetti, bandoneon; Ahmed Alom, piano; and Pedro Giraudo, bass. The deep musical and personal connection between these musicians add another dimension to the music they create in unison.

Pre Save to Spotify and iTunes

https://fanlink.to/impulsotanguero

Listen

Private label link for press
https://tigerturn.eonedistribution.com/play/211/f7ffa43bbcfc0c192158f7731cc25e154b40358f/

Review

“His arrangements have the ducking countermelodies and cross talk of a Bob Brookmeyer chart, and the feisty footwork of Astor Piazzolla’s up-tempo tunes.”
– Giovanni Russonello, The New York Times

Personnel

Nick Danielson (violin)
Assistant Concertmaster of the NYC Ballet Orchestra, and enjoys a distinguished career in both the classical and tango worlds.

Rodolfo Zanetti (bandoneón)
Recognized as one of the most prominent bandoneonists in the United States, performing at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Ahmed Alom (piano)
Considered a prodigy since the age of 14, winning many first prizes on piano competitions, and now living in New York, where he continues to garner acclaim.

Pedro Giraudo (bass and compositions)
Among the many noteworthy events in Pedro Giraudo’s career, he recorded bass on Ruben Blades’ CD “Tangos”, which won a Grammy and a Latin Grammy. He is also one of U.S.’s most prominent tango artists including Pablo Ziegler, Hector Del Curto, and Luis Bravo’s “Forever Tango”.

More Info

Website
www.pedrogiraudo.com

Westbeth Artist Page
Pedro Giraudo

Contact:
Cantaloupe Management, Ellen Azorin, ellenazorin@gmail.com – 212-724-2400

Jonathan Bauch
Visual Rhythms

Jonathan Bauch
‘TheSteel”
Featured in Carter Burden Gallery show opening May 27, 2021
Painted steel. 64 x 37 x 18 inches

VISUAL RHYTHMS


May 27 – June 23, 2021

Carter Burden Gallery
548 West 28th Street 5th Fl
New York, NY

An exhibition of abstract contemporary art that features color -used in both two and three dimensions,

Jonathan Bauch – works in steel sculpture
Greg Brown – paints dancing intertwining forms

Melika Dave
Art on the Ave NYC

Art on Avenue NYC

A public arts initiative dedicated to community regeneration and the elevation of local artists.

Current Exhibition: Live the Village
April 15th – July 8th, 2021
Link: https://www.artontheavenyc.com

Melika Dave

“Joseph”
Mixed Media on Paper

Located in storefront at east side of Hudson St between Perry and Charles Its in West Village

“I use my expressionistic approach to painting to tell the story of the New Yorkers I love and appreciate. It is important for me to capture my neighbors, to capture the strength, solidarity and resilience of my community and to speak to the pulse and movement of the city. I have spent recent years building community with empathetic, affirming artists and cultural workers in New York City and this work is an ode to the multiplicity and nuance of that community.”

Melika Dave Links
Melika Dave at ArtonAveNYC.com

Melika Dave website

WESTFEST 2021
ON-SITE & ONLINE
Dance Festival

WESTFEST 2021 PROGRAM A

WESTFEST 2021 PROGRAM B

Videos and Artist Bios are available at westfestdance.com

WestFest is a cutting edge, curated dance festival presenting established and emerging movement artists. This year’s online festival includes two different one-hour programs hosted via a zoom link found at www.westfestdance.com. Following our site-specific format, each choreographer will present their work in a site they have chosen. Join us as we tour the world, from Arizona to Switzerland, in the comfort and safety of your own home.

More information at www.westfestdance.com

Join us May 1st and 2nd for this year’s live-streamed productions with the wonderful TruDee as our EMCEE.

Program A – Saturday, May 1st – 4PM EST
BOiNK! Dance & Film
Martha Graham II
Zachary Frazee
Rachael Lieblein-Jurbala
Madison wada
Emily Laird

Program B – Sunday, May 2nd – 4PM EST
Carol Nolte/Dance Collective
Rush Johnston Kaleid Dance Collective
Dual Rivet
Anne Goldberg-Baldwin
Pauline Gervais
Mira Göksel
Catherine Gallant

Registration: FREE

Viewing Link: www.westfestdance.com
Time: 4PM EST
Running Time: 1 hour

CONTACT: production@westfestdance.com

WestFest 2021 is produced under the auspices of the Westbeth Artists’ Residents Council. westbeth.org

Check Out WestFest Dance Festival 2020

NANCY GOLDRING
THE CLUMSY ARK

LIVE ZOOM READING
The Clumsy Ark
Written and Read by Nancy Goldring
with projected visuals

May 12, 2021 at 6:30PM

Link Info:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81903784305

Meeting ID: 819 0378 4305
Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 819 0378 4305

For Link email: westbethgallery@gmail.com

The little book began as an article for an Italian cultural magazine, Le Cose e Le Parole. I was asked to write about life under the pandemic here Westbeth, and in the city in general. Gradually it grew into a project about the diving boat parked along the river’s edge.

Artist Bio

Based in New York, artist and writer Nancy Goldring has been exhibiting her drawings with foto-projections for 50 years. She was one of the founding members of SITE, Inc. an experimental architectural group in the Seventies. Her previous books and catalogs include: Distillations published by the Southeast Museum of Photography, Palinsesto: The Photographs of Nancy Goldring (Mazzotta) for the city of Parma with essays by David Levi Strauss and Paolo Barbaro, Vanishing Points, Galleria Martini Ronchetti, Genoa, and the Casa dell’Architettura of Rome with an essay by Michael Taussig. Her work can be found in many public collections including: The Bibliotheque Nationale, Eastman House Museum, the International Center of Photography (NYC), the International Centre of Photography in Mumbai. the St. Louis Art Museum, the Smith College Museum, the Houston Museum of Fine Art, the Herzlyia Museum, Polaroid Collection, WestLicht Schauplatz für Fotografie.

Gayle Kirschenbaum Photo Exhibit

SUNSHINE STATE & PORTRAITS

Live Virtual Walkthrough Photo Event
May 12, 2021 6PM – 7PM

LINK HERE: https://www.gaylekirschenbaum.com/photography

” An invigorating collection that seeped with visceral humanity, even if the majority did not actually feature people.”
-Riley McGraw Hart- Honeysuckle Magazine

As I found myself unexpectedly in Florida last July in the midst of the pandemic, I was pulled to the ocean to enjoy and capture the sunrises. Feeling lucky to be free to do so when so many others were locked down in their apartments with not much to enjoy outside in the cold weather.
As I explored my new surroundings of the sunshine state my eye saw beauty in many places. SUNSHINE STATE is my exhibit of these photos captured since summer.
PORTRAITS are images of humanity and my connection to each of my subjects.

Bio
Gayle Kirschenbaum is a creator who expresses herself in many forms. She began life as a visual artist and started taking photos where she loved spending hours in her darkroom. She found herself shooting stories with her photographs and painting them in an impressionist way. Her desire to use words and sound led her to moving images. She became an Emmy award-winning filmmaker whose films and programs have premiered on Netflix, HBO, and Discovery. They include Look At Us Now, Mother!, A Dog’s Life: A Dogamentary, My Nose and Little Parents. Her last film led to an invitation to give a TEDx talk called No More Drama With Mama about forgiveness. She speaks and teaches on this topic. Gayle has found herself returning to her first love, photography. Her photographs were exhibited in Spain at the Barcelona Foto Biennale in October 2018, she received an honorable mention under landscape for the Pollux Awards 2019, have been in Westbeth group shows and a solo show.

She has been featured widely in the media including New York Times, NBC Today Show, Jerusalem Post and Psychology Today. She is a member of Producers Guild of America (PGA) and a judge for the Emmys and PGA.