As
part of the concert series '25 years of international accordion
concerts in Neunkirchen', Herbert
Scheibenreif invited the world-famous 'Duo Semionov' for a tour
of Austria involving 10 concerts - Gloggnitz, Graz, Klagenfurt,
Neunkirchen, Hochegg, Rottenmann, Salzburg, Perg, Vienna and Bad
Tatzmannsdorf. In addition, two workshops were held dealing with
'Russian bayan literature' at the conservatory in Klagenfurt, and
'Russian accordion pedagogics', in Rottenmann.
In 1977 Viatcheslav
Semionov was awarded the title 'Merited Artist of Russia', and
in 1988 he became a Professor at the Russian 'Gnessin' Academy of
Music. In 1995 he received the high honor of 'People's Artist of
Russia' from President Boris Yeltsin.
Since 1991, he has been playing in duo with his wife Nathalia Semionov
(Domra). Together they have given many concerts in the USA, China
and in many European countries. Semionov
is well known also as a composer for bayan. His compositions 'First
Sonata', 'Four rhapsodies: Ukraine, Belo-Russia, Lithuania and Latvia',
'Don Rhapsody' and others feature in the standard repertoire of
many accordionists around the world and its works are often used
as test pieces at international accordion competitions. He has recorded
several vinyl records and cassettes, and his first CD 'Semionov
Plays His Transcriptions' was released in 1996.
Afterwards, other CDs followed such as 'Duo Semionov' and 'Kalina
Krasnaja', which feature his original compositions. His concert
'Freski' for bayan, orchestra and percussion, also released on CD,
was selected as the test piece for the final round of this year's
bayan competition in Moscow.
In
early November accordionist Guy
Klucevsek worked on the Sony Sound Stage in Los Angeles, recording
as part of the orchestra for John Williams' score for Steven Spielberg's
new film, 'Munich'. Guy
played both free bass accordion and bass accordion for the sessions.
'Munich', based on the terrorist attacks at the 1972 Olympics and
the aftermath, opens in theaters across the USA on December 26th
2005.
Dr
Herbert
Scheibenreif writes: "A special
honour was assigned to Friedrich
Lips recently. Friedrich Lips was born on November 18th 1948,
in the city of Yemanzhelinsk near Chelyabinsk - around 2.000 kilometres
east of Moscow on the eastern side of the Ural Mountains, bordering
the Asian part of the Soviet Union - to Russian parents of German
descent.
In the context of the 'Friedrich Lips - Cup for the Young Generation'
held in Yemanshelinsk from October 28th to 30th, according to a
resolution of the regional parliament of Chelyabinsk, his former
music school where he received his first music instruction during
the 1950s, was re-named after him: 'Friedrich Lips - Music School
for Gifted Children'. Thus, Friedrich Lips ranks among the few artistes
who have actually received such an honor during their lifetime!"
Accordionist
Karen Tweed has plans to hold workshops in Gloucester, London, Cardiff,
Derbyshire and Leeds early in 2006. These workshops are also likely
to include fiddle, voice and dance or to be ensemble workshops.
She welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in organising an accordion
workshop. On January 7th and 8th, Karen is to appear at an accordion
weekend in Edinburgh.
Sergei
Osokin Opens New Music School, Mühlacker - Germany Contributed
by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
Russian
virtuoso accordionist Sergei Osokin, winner of many international
competitions, will perform a solo concert to mark the official opening
of the Glock Music School in Mühlacker. The concert will start
at 6pm and tickets are available at the cash desk the same evening.
The Glock Music School is situtated at Bahnhofstr 119, 75417 Mühlacker.
Andre
Verchuren Recordings, Paris - France Contributed
by Rob
Howard
French accordionist Andre Verchuren began his career in the
1930s, and his career uniquely bridges the gap between the pre-war
'Golden Era' of the musette accordion era in Paris and today. Verchuren's
flamboyant performances have made him a greatly admired and much
imitated accordionist.
One of the most prolific French recording artistes, Verchuren has
produced many vinyl records, cassettes, videos and CDs since the
mid-1940s. Several of his CDs of musette, Latin and classical music
have recently been re-issued, and made widely available.
Mary
Tokarski's Visit to the Czech Republic
Contributed by Rob
Howard
American
accordionist Mary Tokarski recently visited the Czech Republic,
performing two concerts with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra
at the City Concert Hall in Olomouc. During her visit to Olomouc,
Mary also recorded a composition by Gary Daverne entitled 'A Musical
Party', with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mary has won many trophies and awards as a competitive player in
State, Regional and National competitions in the USA. In 1971 and
1973 she represented the USA in the Coupe Mondiale, in Belgium and
France respectively. She usually performs with her brother Walter
Kasprzyk and sister Julie Kasprzyk Cardona as The "K"
Trio, but occasionally also performs as a solo accordionist.
Spanish
accordionist Inaki
Alberdi is in concert at the Grand Salle, L'Arsenal, Metz on
November 18th. He will be performing the 'Concerto for Accordion
and Orchestra', by Jesús Torres, with ORCAM, an orchestra
from Madrid. The concert begins at 8.30pm. In
2006 Inaki Alberdi has plans to write and perform a musical version
of the stories of Hans Christian Anderson.
Chango
Spasiuk's European Tour, Buenos Aires - Argentina
Contributed by Rob
Howard
Argentinean
accordionist Chango Spasiuk is currently on a tour of Europe, taking
his chamame music, a genre from the north east of Argentina and
south of Brazil, to new audiences. His tour dates and details are:-
November 18th, at 9pm - Teatro Federico García Lorca, Calle
Ramón y Cajal, 22, Getafe, Spain
19th - venue to be confirmed in Madrid
20th - Theatre of Comedy, Brighton, England
22nd - Arts Chapter, Cardiff, Wales
23rd - The Sage, Newcastle, England
24th - Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, England
25th - De Spiegel, St Nicholas, Belgium
26th - Rataplan, Borgerhout, Belgium
27th - Oosterport, Groningen, Netherlands
29th - Moliere Theatre, Galerie de la Porte de Namur, Square du
Bastion 5, Brussels, Belgium
The
quartet Tango Nuevo, featuring Jérémy Vannereau on
bandoneon, perform a concert on November 22nd at Canal Opus, 167
Qual de Valmy, Paris. The performance begins at 9.30pm.
Nikolai
Ryskov Performs Astor Piazzolla, London - UK
Contributed by Rob
Howard
London-based
Russian accordionist Nikolai Ryskov is to perform three concerts
of music composed by Astor Piazzolla. The details are:-
November 29th, from 6pm to 7.20pm, at The National Theatre, South
Bank, London, SE1 9PX. Free admission.
December 4th, at 4pm, at Holy Innocents Church, Paddenswick Road,
London W6.
December 18th, at 3pm, at the Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street,
Mayfair, London W1K 2 PA.
The
Canary Islands Folk festival takes place from November 23rd to
26th. Amongst the many artistes appearing is local accordionist
Miguel Afonso, who appears in concert on the 26th, sharing the
bill with the local band band Luética and Radio Tarifa,
from Madrid. The concert in the town of Telde, and begins at 9pm.
Vincenzo
Abbracciante Concert, Vienna - Austria Contributed by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
The
Vincenzo Abbracciante Trio from Italy, featuring accordion, bass
and drums, will perform a concert at the Stadttheater, Wiener Neustadt,
on December 8th, at 7.30pm. Their program includes tango and jazz.
42nd
Festival di Nuova Consonanza, Rome - Italy Contributed
by Harley
Jones
The 42nd Festival di Nuova Consonanza is a music festival that
takes place from November 10th to December 17th at venues in Rome,
involving students from the Conservatory and outside musicians.
This year's festival includes the following two accordion concerts:-
November 19th, at 9pm at the Accademia di Francia Villa Medici -
a concert by Pascal Contet (France) on bayan, playing music by Runchack,
Dusapin, Tsepkolenko, Polyeva and Cardi.
December 10th, at 6.30pm - at the Conservatory of Music, Germano
Scurti performs on the bayan.
Peter
Piccini releases 3 compositions of 'Waltz
For Fina', 'Cool
Shade' and 'Valse
Pour Vouse'. Samples of the music are available online. The
music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer.
Purchase with credit card.
James
O' Brien - composer, arranger and performer, releases another
6 new works for accordion available for purchase online. 'Every
Night When The Sun Goes In '(traditional), 'Foggy
Dew' (traditional), 'Greensleeves'
(traditional), 'Helena
Polka' (traditional), 'La
Golondrina' (traditional), 'Le
Chat à Jeannette' (traditional). Samples of this music
are available on the site. The music is in eSheet format, able to
be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.
As
part of the concert series '25 years of international accordion
concerts in Neunkirchen', 
Dr
Accordionist
Karen Tweed has plans to hold workshops in Gloucester, London, Cardiff,
Derbyshire and Leeds early in 2006. These workshops are also likely
to include fiddle, voice and dance or to be ensemble workshops.
She welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in organising an accordion
workshop. On January 7th and 8th, Karen is to appear at an accordion
weekend in Edinburgh.
Sergei
Osokin Opens New Music School, Mühlacker - Germany
American
accordionist Mary Tokarski recently visited the Czech Republic,
performing two concerts with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra
at the City Concert Hall in Olomouc. During her visit to Olomouc,
Mary also recorded a composition by Gary Daverne entitled 'A Musical
Party', with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Argentinean
accordionist Chango Spasiuk is currently on a tour of Europe, taking
his chamame music, a genre from the north east of Argentina and
south of Brazil, to new audiences. His tour dates and details are:-
London-based
Russian accordionist Nikolai Ryskov is to perform three concerts
of music composed by Astor Piazzolla. The details are:-
Vincenzo
Abbracciante Concert, Vienna - Austria