Avri Levitan viola, tutor (Musethica)
Stefan de Leval Jezierski French horn, tutor (Scharoun Ensemble, Berliner Philharmoniker)
Krzysztof Galbarczyk clarinet*
Jan Tomaszuk clarinet*
Karolina Mizera bassoon**
Sławomira Wilga violin***
Agata Nowak cello**
Mateusz Wadowski double bass***
* participants of the 12th Sinfonia Varsovia Academy
** guest performance
*** Sinfonia Varsovia musicians
Ludwig van Beethoven Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20, for clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, and double bass (1800) [43’]
I. Adagio – Allegro con brio
II. Adagio cantabile
III. Tempo di menuetto – Trio
IV. Tema con variazioni: Andante
V. Scherzo: Allegro molto e vivace – Trio
VI. Andante con moto alla marcia – Presto
small solo and chamber works selected by the project participants
Musethica is a musical educational program with a strong social character. Established in 2012 by violist and educator Avri Levitan, it already operates in 12 countries. It focuses on such education of young and talented instrumentalists that their interpretations of chamber music, in addition to high artistic value, are characterized by high communicativeness. Each Musethica session consists of two fixed components: intensive workshops conducted by a tutor with the participants of a given edition, and presentation of the prepared program in places where concerts are not usually held, including nursing homes, hospitals, aid centers and educational institutions. The close contact between the young artists and the listeners and the opportunity to share each other’s impressions after the concert allow both parties to feel the unique power of music and, more broadly, art as a way of communicating and conveying emotions.
This year’s series of performances will culminate in a final concert, which, following the example of previous editions of Musethica, will be held at Nowa Miodowa – Concert Hall of the Complex of State Music Schools No. 1 in Warsaw. The concert program will include, among others, a masterpiece of chamber music – Ludwig van Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20. The second – besides Avri Levitan – tutor for this year’s Warsaw session will be the legendary American French horn player, former longtime musician of the Berliner Philharmoniker, and current member of the Scharoun Ensemble, Stefan de Leval Jezierski.
The Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20 is one of those fortunate – and quite rare – cases when a work considered important in the history of music was also enjoyed by listeners and performers during the composer’s lifetime. Judging by the numerous adaptations for various ensembles, the composer’s own development of a version for piano trio (Op. 38), and the numerous testimonies of home performances throughout the 19th century, the Septet can be counted among Beethoven’s most popular works. The piece reflects carefree character of Mozart’s music, and it shares many similarities with his Divertimento in D major, K. 334.
