My passion
towards Western Classical Music and International
Pianist Dr.Eugene Alcalay’s performance at Museum Theatre, Egmore, Chennai on 21st
Jan.2015.
Interest or
passion or whatever it may be, Western
Music gave me a deeper impact in music ,since I saw the Movie “ The Sound of
Music “ in 1965. A tuneful,
heartwarming story, it is based on the real life story of the Von Trapp Family
singers, one of the world's best-known concert groups in the era immediately
preceding World War II. Julie Andrews plays the role of Maria, the tomboyish
postulant at an Austrian abbey.
Christopher
Plummer as Captain Georg von
Trapp.
Do-Re-Mi song
from the movie inspired me and many who does not know much about Western Music, prior to the screening of it.
Now I can
say that my passion towards Western Classical
took a journey since then, when I was 13. Of course pop music of those
times, Beatles, Elvis Presley , Donna Summer,
Abba , Boney M, Tom Jones, Engelbert
Humperdink, Michael Jackson and many other
diverted my attention from Western Classical. But the inner love towards my
original passion ignited my quest to listen few audio cassettes gifted by my youngest brother, who was a student of Master
Dhanraj, a great Pianist and Music Teacher in Mylapore. South Indian Music Maestro Ilayaraja has learnt guitar from
him. The titles includes : Henry Mancini, Strauss, Franz Von Suppe, Budapest
Philarmonic Orchestra conducted by Janos Sandor, George Fredic Handel,
Beethovan Collection Symphony No.5, and
Tchaikovsky.
My daughter
and son knows my love in Western Classical and gifts cassettes of my liking and
asked me to listen in their absence ( on the lighter side ). But now my
daughter learns Guitar in Iowa. My hectic work schedules preoccupied my
personal space so long and missed many concerts. But at last now , after retirement,
I experience “ The Joy Of Not Working “ . This is the title of a book by Ernie J.Zelinsky, and I gifted a copy of the book , bought and sent from US
by my daughter, exclusively for him, to
my mentor in my last employment.
My present
collections are in the photo and I listen to one at least daily. My daughter sent from abroad a pair of
CD – Essential GUITAR Masterpieces featuring Legends Andres Segovia, John
Williams, Juian Bream, Pepe Romera, Paco Pena and more of 35 collections. My CD collections includes : George Greshwin (
1898-1937 ), Leonard Brenstein ( 1918-1990 ) and Richard Wagner ( 1813-1883 ).
Coming to
Dr.Eugene Alcalay’s biography, he is a native of Bucharest, Romania, playing
piano at the age of two and composed at the age of eight. He became the first
recipient of The Lenard Bernstein Scholarship at Indiana University School of
Music, continued his graduation and Masters and finished his Doctoral degree in
Piano Performance at The Juillard School. Currently he is an Associate Professor of
Piano at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. His CD “ Lyrical Liszt” was
released in 2008.
Yesterday’s amazing recital of Dr.Alcalay was an enchanting programme of
four oldest compositions by : Georgw Frideric Handel ( 1685-1750 ) –Suite in G
minor, Franz Schubert ( 1797-1828 ) – Sonata in C minor, Ludwing Van Beethovan
( 1770-1827 ) – Sonata in D major and Franz Liszt ( 1821-1886 ) – Les Preludes
Symphonic Poem no.3 and presented three more
encores while closing with a loud applause.
The complete
600 odd seats of Musium Theatre ( established
in 1851 ) was in full house with music lovers, admirers, learners ( like me ),
instrument players and members of Chennai Western Music Association. The Piano
courtesy – Musee Musical, Chennai ) . Dr.Alcalay was honored and felicitated in
the closing ceremony. Pin drop silence was maintained in the hall of --- people
. You may view many of his recitals in YouTube
and I too wish to post a short piece in my site. A great opportunity for
Chennaites was used well by many music enthusiast.
Long live Dr.Eugene Alcalay and his music.
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