“Hungarian Dance” presented by Federico Cortese and New England String Ensemble

PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 13, 2007 – New England String Ensemble and Music Director Federico Cortese launch the orchestra’s 14th season by christening the newly built WGBH Fraser Performance Studio with its first LIVE performance, an on-air sneak preview of NESE’s season opener “Hungarian Dance”.  The live broadcast of Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances”, Hubay’s “Csardas” featuring violinist Irina Muresanu, and Sarasate’s  “Zigeunerweisen” also with Ms. Muresanu can be heard at WGBH radio dial 89.7 FM on Thursday September 20th at noon.  

Following the noon on-air performance, the orchestra will head to the Roger’s Center for Performing Arts in North Andover for the 7:00 pm full concert premier of “Hungarian Dance” where the elegance of Western Europe and traditional folk styles share the stage as NESE performs works of Hungarian composers Hubay, Bartok and Kurtag.  International award winning violinist Irina Muresanu joins the orchestra for both the Hubay “Csardas” and Sarasate's “Zigeunerweisen”. Brahms opens and closes the program celebrating the great influence the traditional music of this region had on his life.  New string orchestra arrangements of “Hungarian Dances No.s 17 and 21 by Davide Ianni begin the concert, and it concludes with his Sextet in B flt, Op. 18.

A native of Bucharest, Romania, Irina Muresanu has won international acclaim as an outstanding young soloist, recitalist and chamber musician having already achieved top prizes in numerous international violin competitions.  The Boston Globe has come to praise her as “…not just a virtuoso, but an artist”, and the Los Angeles Times has written that her “musical luster, melting lyricism and colorful conception made Irina Muresanu’s performance especially admirable”.  Ms. Muresanu currently serves on both the faculties of the Boston Conservatory and the Music Department at MIT. She was appointed Artist-in-Residence as a member of the Lewin-Muresanu Duo at the Boston Conservatory, as well as at the New England Conservatory’s Preparatory Division as a member of the Boston Trio.

The Ensemble will perform again on Sunday September 23rd at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall at 3:00pm.  Free for all ticket holders 45-minutes prior to each concert is a “Conversation with Cortese”.  This is an opportunity for audience members to learn about the composers and pieces being performed through an interactive discussion with Music Director Federico Cortese, joined by featured artists and special guests.

Brahms:Hungarian Dances
Sarasate:Zigeunerweisen
   Irina Muresanu, violin
Bartok:   Divertimento
Hubay:   Scènes de la Csárda, No.2
   Irina Muresanu, violin
Kurtag:   Ligatura
Brahms:Sextet in Bb

Joining NESE as Honorary Patrons for the evening will be Consul Gábor Garai, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Hungary for New England as well as Andres Cser, President of the Hungarian Society of Massachusetts.

NESE TICKET INFORMATION

Subscriptions and individual tickets are now on sale through New England String Ensemble’s website www.newenglandstringensemble.org and through the NESE box office at 781-224-1117.  Subscription, Student and Group Discounts are available.