Dawn Upshaw Premieres TCMF Commission at Carnegie HallTreny by Michael Ward-Bergeman wows packed Zankel Hall By Mathew Robinson

As the old saying goes, the way to Carengie Hall is practice, practice, practice.It is all the more impressive, then, when a brand new chamber composition makes its way into one of the world’s most famous and prestigious concert halls.

That is exactly what happened on Sunday evening November 2, 2008, when Dawn Upshaw, as part of her scheduled recital, performed the world premiere of Treny by composer Michael Ward-Bergman. Treny (“Laments”) was commissioned by TCMF in honor of board member and long-time supporter Edna Kalman.

Based on the words of famed 16th century Polish poet Jan Kochanowski, Treny featured Dawn Upshaw joined by the composer on his amazing invention, the hyper-accordion, as well as cello, piano and flute.

Harry Rolnick’s review of the Carnegie performance captures the spir i t of both this amazing new composit ion and i ts premiere performance:

“But perhaps most impressive, because i t was unknown, was the world premiere of Michael Ward-Bergeman’s Treny ( a Terezín Chamber Music Foundation commission ), one of the laments of the 16th Century Polish poet Jan Kochanowski. Mr. Ward-Bergeman is the inventor of the “hyper-accordion”….This composit ion…was dark, lyr ical, mysterious and the most woeful lament for the death of a daughter. With the exception of four explosive measures, the work had an almost fr ightening calm. Ms. Upshaw sung the l ines with tel l ing severity, but Mr. Ward-Bergeman matched this with the most beauti ful interplay of f lute and piano, while his own instrument, rarely prominent, played a kind of organ pedal point with the cel lo.”

When it was over, a pregnant hush was followed by a roaring ovation. And those who were fortunate enough to attend the sold-out performance continue to speak of this memorable experience!

In addition to TCMF Director Mark Ludwig, over 25 other TCMF members and supporters traveled from San Francisco, Philadelphia and Boston for the premiere. Jill and Bob Jaffe hosted a pre-concert cocktail party celebration for guests of TCMF. At the party, TCMF board members and fans enjoyed homemade pomegranate martinis and other delicious treats while discussing music and other common interests.

Treny will receive its Boston premiere by Dawn Upshaw and Michael Ward-Bergeman in Jordan Hall on Sunday, May 2, 2009.  

Dawn Upshaw Premieres TCMF Commission at Carnegie HallNew piece by Michael Ward-Bergeman wows packed Zankel Hall

As the old saying goes, the way to Carengie Hall is practice, practice, practice.It is all the more impressive, then, when a brand new piece makes its way into this historic Hall.,But that is exactly what happened on November 2, 2008, when Dawn Upshaw, as part f her scheduled recital, performed a world premiere piece by international composer Michael Ward-Bergman that had been commissioned by TCMF in honor of board member and long-time supporter Edna Kalman.Based on the words of famed 16th century Polish poet Jan Kochanowski, Treny (“Laments”) featured the composer on his amazing invention, the hyper-accordion, as well as cello, piano and flute, all of which melded and contrasted with Ms. Upshaw’s beautiful vocals perfectly. Over 18 months in the making, the piece was complex and dark but also greatly affecting. When it was over, a pregnant hush was followed by a roaring ovation. And those who were fortunate enough to attend the sold-out performance continue to speak of it!In addition to TCMF Director Mark Ludwig, over 25 other TCMF members and supporters traveled from Boston to New York for the premiere. Before the performance, guests of TCMF were invited to the home of Jill and Bob Jaffe, long-time friends of TCMF who happen to live just one block away from the Hall. At the party, TCMF board members and fans enjoyed homemade pomegranate martinis and other delicious treats while discussing music and other common interests.As TCMF is based in Boston, the piece will next be performed at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall on Sunday, May 2 at 2 PM. The performance will be followed by a cocktail reception hosted by TCMF board member Nancy Feldman.

Challenge Grant For Krása-Schaechter Fund  Help a TCMF meet a wonderful challenge!  In honor of Edgar Krása, TCMF has received an anonymous matching challenge grant of $18,000 to the Krása - Schaechter Fund.  Your gift will be matched dollar for dollar. The Krása-Schaechter Fund was established by TCMF to remember and celebrate the legacy of music created in Terezín, as illustrated by the lives of two extraordinary individuals: conductor Raphael Schaechter and artist, chef, and TCMF board member Edgar Krása, who sang with Schaechter and has dedicated his life to Holocaust education.

“The composer's legacy is in the works they created in Terezin that survived, where the composers did not,” Krása says. “Schachter's legacy lived only in the memory of those who sang with  him or listened to him.”

Between 1943 and 1944, Krása and over 150 fellow prisoners rehearsed the Verdi Requiem under Schaechter’s direction and performed the subversive piece 15 times for other inmates and ultimately for the Nazi elite. Though most of the musicians perished, the music and musical legacy has survived. Through this new Fund, they will continue to do so into the future. 

“Those operas represented Resistance,” Krása says. “Resistance to the conditions the Nazis imposed on [us]. Verdi's Requiem was an act of defiance, threatening the Nazis with the coming ‘Day of Wrath’ and the final Judgment.”

For more than seven decades, music has been and continues to be an important part of Krása’s life.  This Fund supports and nurtures the future in three musical areas dear to Krása: Holocaust music education programs, supporting young emerging Czech and American composers, and maintaining the memory of Rafael Schaechter. The first recipient was Yale University student Stephen Feigenbaum, who was warded a grant from the Fund at the TCMF annual gala in October, 2008. Another grant has been awarded to Pavel Zemek, who will premiere his piece at the 2009 Prague Spring Festival (see page 1).

At our annual Gala event on September 22, 2008, TCMF awarded Krása the Terezín Legacy Award for his outstanding service as a Holocaust educator in schools and communities throughout the United States and Czech Republic.

“So many of us have been profoundly touched by Edgar Krása’s experiences in Terezín and Auschwitz,” says TCMF Executive Director Mark Ludwig, “particularly his participation in the musical activities that took place in Terezín amidst the deprivation and death of the Shoah.”

A passionate and inspiring speaker, Krása continues to move and inspire students and adults, bearing witness to the lessons of the Holocaust.

“For years I have been trying to create a legacy for Rafael Schachter,” Krása says. “With TCMF’s idea to commission compositions on Terezin themes by young composers, the memory of Rafael Schachter will continue and live on even after me.”

We hope you will make a contribution towards matching this generous challenge grant. Your gift keeps the spirit of Raphael Schaechter alive while honoring Mr. Krása’s commitment to music, education and tolerance. Thank you for helping to ensure the lasting impact of Terezín’s musical legacy.

For more information about this tax-deductible donation, contact Debora Ramos, Managing Director, Terezín Chamber Music Foundation, (857) 222-8263, dramos@terezinmusic.org.