Salon Series at the Parrish Features Israeli Chamber Project

[caption id="attachment_63739" align="alignnone" width="800"] Israeli Chamber Project. Pete Checchia photo[/caption]

“Salon Series,” the Parrish Art Museum’s concert series featuring award-winning, world-class artists who perform in an intimate, casual setting will present the seven-piece Israeli Chamber Project performing works for the harp with Sivan Magen on Friday, May 5, at 6 p.m.

In this ninth iteration of “Salon Series,” performers offer insight and personal anecdotes about their program, and audience members have the chance to meet and talk with the musicians following the concerts. In addition to Mr. Magen on harp, the group includes Carmit Zori and Kobi Malkin on violin, Melissa Reardon on viola, Michal Korman on cello, Tibi Cziger on clarinet and Assaff Weisman on piano.

“‘Salon Series’ offers a casual environment to experience and enjoy classical and contemporary music by master musicians,” Parrish Director Terrie Sultan said. “In fitting with the museum’s mission to illuminate the creative process, ‘Salon Series’ performers engage in a dialogue with the audience, talking about their approach to interpretation and program selection.”

The program, titled “Harp+,” opens with “Poem for Solo Harp” by German-born Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim whose music is a synthesis of Western classical with Middle Eastern and Jewish folk music. Included is a duet for harp and clarinet, “Three Romances Op. 94,” by German Romantic composer Robert Schumann and “Two Interludes for Harp, Clarinet and Cello” by French composer Jacques Ibert.

The program continues with the “Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor,” arranged for harp by Mozart, which was originally rejected by the publisher who commissioned it for fear it was too difficult for an amateur musician to play. The show concludes with = “Chamber Music No. 1,” written in 1959 by the Czech neoclassic composer Bohuslav Martinů.

Based in Israel and New York, the Israeli Chamber Ensemble was created for its members to give back to the community where they began their musical education by partnering with schools and universities.

The group offers lessons and master classes to students of all cultural and economic backgrounds who may have little or no opportunity to work with internationally recognized professional musicians and to showcase Israeli culture through its music. Members include prizewinners at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Russia, the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Gaspar Cassado Cello Competition.

The group has performed at venues like Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Morgan Library & Museum, Symphony Space in New York City and on NPR’s Performance Today and WQXR radio’s Young Artist Showcase.

This event is co-programmed with Louis Meisel, Concert Artists Guild, Pro Musicis and Yamaha Artists Services, Inc. The cost is $20 and $10 for Parrish members. The Golden Pear Café and the museum will be open before and after the concerts.

The Parrish Art Museum is located at 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill. For more information, please call (631) 283-2118 or visit parrishart.org.