TRIO OF MUSICIANS WIN AUDIENCE WITH MUSIC THROUGH THE CENTURIES AT CSHS

The Florida Keys Concert Association (FLKCA) produced its third concert of the season featuring a trio of musicians on February 1. The concert was sponsored by the History of Diving Museum.

At the start of the concert, Norman Werbner, director of the FLKCA program, welcomed the musicians: Itamar Zorman, violin, Lisa Stepanova, piano, and Alice Yoo, cello. Yoo flew in from Colorado to replace the third member of the trio who couldn’t come.

In the first part, the trio played music from three different eras. Enrique Granados composed at the beginning of the 20^and century. The trio performed Granados’ intermezzo from his opera ‘Goyescas’, the most famous part of the opera. Granados wrote this opera depicting paintings by his favorite Spanish painter Goya. The second piece was Piano Trio in E flat major by Franz Joseph Haydn, composer of the 18^and century. Haydn was a composer of many genres.

“It’s a more mature piece. Throughout the piece, one will be surprised by the sounds of a symphony, a string quartet,” Zorman said.

The first part ended with music composed by Brian Raphael Nabors, a 31-year-old contemporary composer from Birmingham, Alabama. Nabors wrote his Piano Trio in 2019. The piece is based on a story by “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, a short story written by Robert Louis Stevenson. It’s a musical battle between a split personality, where good fights evil.

The trio ended the concert with Piano Trio in B-flat major by Franz Schubert. The composer wrote this trio in 1828, the last year of his short life. Schubert died at the age of 31.

“Music in B-flat major is as deep a journey as possible into the human soul,” Zorman said. “The four movements move from heroic to lyrical, then jokingly end up in different parts of a country site. Absolutely wonderful.

In the closing note, Zorman thanked FLKCA for their patience and hospitality. The violinist acknowledged the difficulties and challenges in organizing a concert these days.

Sally Bauer, concert sponsor (Sally and her husband founded the History of Diving Museum many years ago by donating their personal collection), and subscriber, said, “I’m a purist. I like soothing music. Listening to the music of Nabors, I wondered about the creation of new sounds by this 400 year old instrument. Contemporary music shocks, but it’s a good shock.

The Rastrelli Cello Quartet will play Monday, February 14 at Marathon High School and Tuesday, February 15 at Coral Shores High School. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at the door are $30. More information at FLKCA.com.