“We are thrilled to perform Paul Moravec’s music.”
And so, Janz Castelo — artistic director of the Buffalo Chamber Players — shares the ensemble’s enthusiasm on the eve of their September 25th “Evening with Paul Moravec” at St. Bonaventure University Quick Center for the Arts. The portrait concert features a pre-concert talk with the composer, followed by the ensemble’s performances of Moravec’s string quartet Vince & Jan: 1945 and his Pulitzer Prize-winning work Tempest Fantasy. The St. Bonaventure College Choir — led by Prof. Kathryn A. Black — also performs Moravec’s new sacred choral work I Will Fear No Evil.
Castelo
continues. “We were invited to perform at St. Bonaventure by Ludwig Brunner, the executive director of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts…His only request for our program was that we include Paul’s Tempest Fantasy. [Moravec is a native son of Buffalo.] I was 
familiar with Paul’s orchestral music, having performed his Montserrat Cello Concerto with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra a few seasons ago, but did not know the Tempest Fantasy. I was blown away by the piece when I first heard it. Tempest Fantasy is a fabulous chamber music work, a tour-de-force for the ensemble. While it is a very challenging piece to play, the work has been very rewarding to put together and it is a great vehicle for presenting the virtuosity of our musicians. As a violist, I wish the piece had a viola part! Tempest Fantasy is very accessible for audiences and they will enjoy the amazing musical ride!
“Since Paul will be in attendance, I wanted to include another one of his compositions. After looking through his catalog, we decided to also program Jan & Vince: 1945 for string quartet. It is a lovely work…I found the genesis of the work, inspired by a 1945 photograph of his parents, fascinating. Working on Paul Moravec’s music has been very rewarding for us and we look forward to meeting him at St. Bonaventure and performing his compositions.”
Coming
up in October: on the 11th, the sTem Ensemble performs Moravec’s new chamber piece Oh, Poor Words That Sing of Love (from Three Love Songs) in Lancaster, PA; and from October 21–24, Moravec gives pre-concert lectures at the New York Philharmonic.
Learn more about Paul Moravec.
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