On April 18, I braved the blizzard-like conditions and attended Viterbo University’s Visiting Artists Chamber Music Concert held in the Nola Starling Recital Hall. This concert included celloist Stepan Filipek and pianist Katelyn Bouska. There was a wide range of contemporary music played by the duo including “Cello Sonata, op. 6)by Samuel Barber, “Pohadka” by Leos Janacek, “Klid Lesa, op. 68” and “Rondo for Cello and Piano, op. 94” by Antonin Dvorak, “On an Overgrown Path” by Leos Janacek, “Dos sonetos de amor” by Jeremy Gill, and “Cello Sonata” by Miloslav Istvan. For the most part, the performed pieces were a mixture of both extremely uplifting pieces and rather serious somber pieces. Together, these pieces resulted in a very enjoyable performance
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I did a quick Google search on her and found out that she actually entered the Preparatory School of Music here at Viterbo University at the age of 11(Sayles). While this is an astounding feat in itself, she also holds graduate degrees in piano pedagogy, harpsichord performance, and collaborative piano. In addition, she is a faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music at Temple University. Her partner, Stepan Filipek, has just as impressive of a resume as Bouska. In addition to obtaining his PhD from JAMU, he has been a member of the Janacek Opera Orchestra of Brno since 2007. In addition, he performs with several ensembles such as Berg Orchestra and Ensemble Recherche. Not only does he perform with ensembles, he has also performed solo with the Plzen Philharmonic and the Moravian Philharmonic of Olomouc. Overall, his main focus is on the interpretation of contemporary classical …show more content…
Not only did I really enjoy these pieces, but I also found it interesting that Dvorak actually spent some time writing music right here in Wisconsin. While this was my first classical music performance or recital I had ever gone to, I was unable to definitively pick out where one song ended and the next started. However, I equally enjoyed both of these songs. While listening to “Klid Lesa,” it was fun watching to Bouska walk up and down the piano keys playing a melody that I pictured a couple dancing to. In addition, the soothing melody played by both the piano and the cello was extremely soothing. While making notes throughout the entire performance, I actually wrote that this piece was putting me to sleep. However, not in a bad or boring way. I found it so soothing and enjoyable that I was able to relax to the point that I was becoming tired.
The second piece of Dvorak’s was pleasing because of the great combination of suspensive music mixed into the joyful and uplifting music. The highs played by Filipek did a great job to create the suspenseful melody that actually sounded a lot like the background music of Jaws. The increase in tempo by Bouska helped to aid the cello in creating these suspenseful moments. The joyful parts of this piece reminded me of the music of a play when everybody breaks into song. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the emotion conveyed by both musicians during these two
I did a quick Google search on her and found out that she actually entered the Preparatory School of Music here at Viterbo University at the age of 11(Sayles). While this is an astounding feat in itself, she also holds graduate degrees in piano pedagogy, harpsichord performance, and collaborative piano. In addition, she is a faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music at Temple University. Her partner, Stepan Filipek, has just as impressive of a resume as Bouska. In addition to obtaining his PhD from JAMU, he has been a member of the Janacek Opera Orchestra of Brno since 2007. In addition, he performs with several ensembles such as Berg Orchestra and Ensemble Recherche. Not only does he perform with ensembles, he has also performed solo with the Plzen Philharmonic and the Moravian Philharmonic of Olomouc. Overall, his main focus is on the interpretation of contemporary classical …show more content…
Not only did I really enjoy these pieces, but I also found it interesting that Dvorak actually spent some time writing music right here in Wisconsin. While this was my first classical music performance or recital I had ever gone to, I was unable to definitively pick out where one song ended and the next started. However, I equally enjoyed both of these songs. While listening to “Klid Lesa,” it was fun watching to Bouska walk up and down the piano keys playing a melody that I pictured a couple dancing to. In addition, the soothing melody played by both the piano and the cello was extremely soothing. While making notes throughout the entire performance, I actually wrote that this piece was putting me to sleep. However, not in a bad or boring way. I found it so soothing and enjoyable that I was able to relax to the point that I was becoming tired.
The second piece of Dvorak’s was pleasing because of the great combination of suspensive music mixed into the joyful and uplifting music. The highs played by Filipek did a great job to create the suspenseful melody that actually sounded a lot like the background music of Jaws. The increase in tempo by Bouska helped to aid the cello in creating these suspenseful moments. The joyful parts of this piece reminded me of the music of a play when everybody breaks into song. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the emotion conveyed by both musicians during these two