Santa Barbara Music Club

Major Sonatas

Saturday, January 23, 2016 3:00 pm

Faulkner Gallery

40 E Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101

Image: Sergei Prokofiev

On SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 at 3 p.m. the SANTA BARBARA MUSIC CLUB will present another program in its popular series of concerts of beautiful Classical music at Faulkner Gallery in the downtown Public Library.

One of the highlights of Santa Barbara Music Club’s concerts is the opportunity for audiences to hear great music from a variety of historical periods, with a diversity of musical forms, performed by excellent artists. This concert features two major chamber music works from the Classical and Contemporary periods.

Program Details

Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69
Ludwig van Beethoven
(1770-1827)
  • Allegro ma non tanto
  • Scherzo: Allegro molto
  • Adagio cantabile-Allegro vivace
Elizabeth Olson, cello
Rosa LoGiudice, piano
Sonata in D major, Op. 94
Sergei Prokofiev
(1891-1953)
  • Moderato
  • Scherzo: Allegretto scherzando
  • Andante
  • Allegro con brio
Adriane Hill, flute
Christopher Davis, piano

Notes on the Program

Notes on the Program

by Betty Oberacker

One of the highlights of Santa Barbara Music Club’s concerts is the opportunity for audiences to hear great music from a variety of historical periods, with a diversity of musical forms, performed by excellent artists. This concert features two major chamber music works from the Classical and Contemporary periods.

The program opens with cellist Elizabeth Olson and pianist Rosa LoGiudice performing Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69. This richly melodic work was composed in 1808 and is dedicated to Baron Ignaz von Gleichenstein. Though von Gleichenstein was a cellist and close friend of Beethoven, the two had a falling out over a woman: both were pursuing her, but she rejected Beethoven and married von Gleichenstein. The sonata was subsequently premiered in 1809 by cellist Nikolaus Kraft and pianist Dorothea von Ertmann (the latter had been a student of Beethoven and he had dedicated his Piano Sonata Op. 28 to her).

Though Beethoven appended the heading, “Inter Lacrimas et Luctum” (Amid Tears and Sorrow) to this work, there is no trace of sadness in the music — only the most expressive lyricism leading to propulsive excitement in the first movement, “Allegro ma non tanto,” the tantalizing syncopated rhythmic piquancy of the second, Scherzo: Allegro molto,” and the marvelous juxtaposition of heartfelt simplicity in the introduction leading to the surging energy of the third, “Adagio cantabile-Allegro vivace.

Flutist Adriane Hill and pianist Christopher Davis will conclude the program, interpreting the fascinating Sonata in D major, Op. 94, of Serge Prokofiev. The work, written in 1942, is in four highly contrasting movements: “Moderato,” a languorous, flowing melodic utterance clearly marked with the composer’s trademark pungency; “Allegretto scherzando,” a playfully fleeting wisp of interplay between the two instruments; “Andante,” a heartfelt and poignant song; and “Allegro con brio,” a most vivacious and rustic statement replete with tremendously exciting virtuosity.

The sonata’s flexible melodic lines and scintillating passagework, together with its attractive blending of neo-classical and romantic elements, have made it a favorite of flutists, pianists, and audiences since its inception. In fact, its popularity was noted by the great Russian violinist David Oistrakh, who convinced the composer to transform the work into an equally attractive Sonata for Violin and Piano.

The Performers

Elizabeth Olson, cellist, began music studies through public school music programs; continuing with private lessons, she currently studies with Geoffrey Rutkowski. She earned her BS Degree in Chemistry from Loma Linda University and her MS Degree in Accountancy from CSU San Bernardino. For the past ten years her passion has been chamber music, with performances including concerts at Loma Linda University and the Santa Barbara Music Club. Elizabeth is currently a CPA at Nasif, Hicks, Harris & Co. in Santa Barbara.

Rosa LoGiudice, pianist, graduated summa cum laude from Hunter College, earning BM and MM Degrees in Piano Performance, and earned her MM Degree in Collaborative Piano from UCSB, studying with Robert Koenig. Active as soloist, collaborative pianist, and chamber musician, she is a founding member and frequent performer at the Glendale Noon Concert Series, and was Staff Pianist and Assistant Director for the Newbury Park High School Choral Department from 2005-2013. Ms. LoGiudice is a member of the Music Teacher’s Association of California and has maintained a piano studio for ten years; her students have participated in and received honors in programs such as the Certificate of Merit and the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Adriane Hill Cleary is a flutist based in Santa Barbara, CA, where she works as the Marketing and Communications Manager for the UC Santa Barbara Department of Music. She studied performance at UC Santa Barbara (M.M.) with Jill Felber and the University of Central Florida (B.M.) with Dr. Nora Lee Garcia. As a member of the new music group, the Now Hear Ensemble, she has toured throughout much of California, including appearances at the Center for New Music in San Francisco and the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT) in Los Angeles. Adriane also serves as the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Los Angeles-based composer-directed collective, Synchromy. Learn more at www.adrianehill.com.

Christopher Davis, pianist, has been concerto soloist with several orchestras including the Northwest Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and has studied with renowned teachers and scholars in Germany, Austria, and Portugal. He earned his BA Degree from UC San Diego, his MM Degree from the University of Arkansas, and his DMA Degree from UCSB. In addition to serving as the Music Academy of the West’s House Manager (2009-2016), Dr. Davis has been on the staff of the Ojai Music Festival and Westmont College (2014-2016), and has worked for Camerata Pacifica, collaborating independently with many of their musicians.