Grand Concert Symphonique January 5, 2013

Until just over a century ago, a performance was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you missed Franz Clement's 1806 premiere of Beethoven's Violin Concerto in Vienna, or Luigi Tomasini's reprise in 1812, you would have to go to Paris in 1828 to hear the third performance of the piece. At that time, music lovers had only one option to relive a concert or get better acquainted with a composition: they could buy an arrangement for chamber ensemble of the orchestral work, and could take it home to play, either alone at the keyboard, or with family and friends. On January 5 and 6, the New Esterhazy Quartet present a re-enactment of these 18th and 19th century equivalents of playing a CD or mp3. Together with pianist Eric Zivian, they perform the period arrangements of grand and famous symphonic works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn. Violinist Lisa Weiss says: "Eric is a wonderfully imaginative and sensitive ensemble player. Adding a fifth player to the equation is an 'ear-opening' experience for us. It brings new perspective to our music making, and makes this a very exciting and rewarding collaboration. What a great way to start the New Year!" The arrangement of Beethoven's Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus dates from 1803, one year before publication of the orchestral version of the overture. Regarding Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 12, the composer himself wrote to a publisher: "I have three piano concertos ready, which can be performed with full orchestra, or with oboes and horns, or merely a quattro."

The members of the New Esterhazy Quartet-violinists Kati Kyme and Lisa Weiss, violist Anthony Martin, and cellist William Skeen-have performed and recorded in the top tier of early music ensembles, and often occupy the front seats of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and American Bach Soloists. The quartet, praised for their "exceptional fluidity and polish," were the first in North America to perform all 68 string quartets of Joseph Haydn on period instruments.

Official Website: http://www.newesterhazy.org