The 38th season of the Community Arts Program (CAP) continues its Summer Concert Series with classical and jazz musicians on Thursday, June 22. The series runs through Aug. 17 Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m.
“Since 1985, the CAP Summer Concert Series has been attended by more than 70,000. It is a time honored tradition that continued with virtual broadcasts to the world throughout the pandemic summers of 2021 and 2022. This developed an extended audience that CAP is excited to welcome on ground again in the summer of 2013,” says Mark Hart, Executive Director of CAP.
Mark Kosower, called an exceptionally intelligent and sensitive cellist by the Chicago Tribune, performs Thursday, June 22 at the CAP 2023 Summer Concert Series. (Photo from CAP)
The roster of artists this summer is stellar with Mark Kosower in concert performing on Thursday, June 22. Kosower, the principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra, teams with pianist Melivia Raharjo to perform the music of Beethoven, Krenek, Martinu , Myaskovsky and Taylor- Perkinson
Kosower’s salute to five composers was chosen to represent diversity in music as well as sending a message following the pandemic, he says.
“I wanted to select music that both shared an identity and was music that we needed to hear right now.”
He'll open the performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 2 in G Minor for Cello and Piano” also known as “Opus 5 No. 2.”
“I chose Beethoven’s G Minor Sonata because Beethoven is my desert island composer. Coming out of the coronavirus pandemic, we need Beethoven. This early romantic sonata communicates triumph over all human struggles with humor and wit.”
Kosower and Raharjo will play the Beethoven composition in three movements: Adagio sostenuto e espressivo, Allegro molto and Rondo Allegro.
“Lamentations: Black/Folk Song Suite For Solo Cello” by Coleridge Taylor- Perkinson follows the Beethoven performance. Kosower plays the composition in four movements: Fuging Tune, Song Form, Calvary Ostinato and Perpetual Motion.
“This indigenous work is based on the African-American experience in this country and is both a profound work and a show stopper.”
Cameroonian-American 2022 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition winner Ekep Nkwelle is sings her story and deep passion for jazz – with music from great recordings and artists that have influenced and continue to inspire her. She closes out the series on Thursday, Aug. 17. (Photo from CAP)
Kosower learned to begin playing the cello as a one-and-a-half-year-old toddler by his father Paul, who was a professor of cello and organ. Paul Kosower also taught Mark’s sister Paula the art of playing cello as well.
“My family absolutely was the foundation of a career in music. In addition to my father being a mentor, together with my sister, we formed the Dolce Cello Trio. We had a ten-year career performing and traveling together across the United States and a tour in Europe as well.”
The 46-year-old cellist has won numerous awards for performing on cello and has been featured with the most prestigious symphony orchestras in the world.
Kosower is also an advocate for the music of Bach and formed the Bach For Humanity project as a means to spread the music of Johann Sebastian Bach primarily to those who never heard his music.
New Orleans percussionist Shannon Powell is one of the most sought after drummers anywhere. He performs as part of the CAP Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20. (Photo from CAP)
“Bach for Humanity was formed in 2017 initially to spread the music of Bach as a three year commitment to the Cleveland area. Today, Bach for Humanity has taken on a new role internationally involving all Bach presentations and all Bach inspired programs,” said Kosower.
Following intermission, Kosower again performs solo on the cello in “Suite For Solo Cello, Opus 84” by Ernst Krenek in five movements: Andante affettuoso, Adagio, Allegretto, Andantino scherzando and Andante.
“This beautiful expressionistic work is extremely colorful, evocative and suggests what it feels like to be alienated.”
Kosower teams again with pianist Raharjo to perform “Sonata No. 2 in A Minor for Cello and Piano,” alternatively titled “Opus 81” by Nikolai Myaskovsky in three movements: Allegro moderato, Andante cantabile and Allegro con spirito.
“This is a neo-Romantic era work that begins with this nostalgic melody that is haunting. The second movement is a beautiful Russian song and the last movement is electrifying.”
Kosower and Raharjo close the concert with “Variations on a Theme of Rossini H. 290” by Bohuslav Martinu
5 String Swing will sweep concertgoers onto their feet with music from the Great American Songbook. (Photo from CAP)
Four more concerts remain in the CAP Summer Concert series following the Kosower concert. Instrumentalists “5 String Swing” perform the music of The Great American Songbook featuring composers George Gershwin, Cole Porter among others on Thursday, July 6.
Drummer and percussionist Shannon Powell and his three-member band perform jazz standards in a concert titled “New Orleans Jazz” on July 20.
Four saxophone masters craft a jaw-dropping experience of Dvořák, Ligeti, Béla Fleck, and others – from works steeped in folk tradition, to time-honored music from around the globe. It's the Sinta Quartet at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3. (Photo from CAP)
“Sinta Quartet,” four saxophone players, perform the classical music of Dvorak, Liget and bluegrass musician Bela Fleck on Thursday, Aug. 3.
Jazz vocalist Ekep Nkwelle and her band perform the most significant jazz songs she's selected that have impacted her personally. She closes out the CAP Summer Concert series on Thursday, Aug. 17.
Mark Kosower, Principal Cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra, teams with pianist Melivia Raharjo in concert for a recital program featuring musical compositions from Beethoven, Krenek, Matinu, Myakovsky and Taylor-Perkinson on Thursday, June 22 at 7:30 pm at Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ, 3010 De Soto Blvd. in Coral Gables as part of the Community Arts Program (CAP) Summer Concert Series.
Tickets are $35 in advance for general admission and $50 for patron seating in the first nine rows. Tickets are $40 for general admission and $55 for patron tickets at the door.
For tickets and information, go to communityartsprogram.org or call 305-448-7421 x120.
