In the courtyard of Magazzino Italian Art in Cold Spring, NY, guest experienced the vibrancy of Italian chamber music. Spanning four centuries, from Isabella Leonarda, a 17th century Ursuline Nun, to the 20th century expressionist and avant-garde composer, Niccolò Castiglioni, audiences heard a string quartet composed of musicians Robert Zubrycki (violin), James Tsao (violin), Adria Benjamin (viola) and Emily Brausa (cello) bring this music to life. The finale of the concert featured the soaring melodies and filigreed lines of the 19th century bel canto master, Gaetano Donizetti.
Due to inclement weather on Friday, July 9, the concert was been postponed to Saturday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m.
The concert began at 7:00 p.m. and doors opened at 6:00 p.m. Tickets were available at magazzino.eventbrite.com.
Please note that a full vaccination record, showing that it has been 14 days or longer since your complete immunization OR a negative PCR test administered 72 hours prior OR a negative antigen test administered within 6 hours of the concert time was required upon entry. Scroll down to read the full safety information guidelines.
Program
Giacinto Scelsi, String Quartet No. 3, V. Liberation, Catharsis
Giacomo Puccini, I Crisantemi
Isabella Leonarda, Twelve Sonatas, Op. 16, Sonata Terza
Alba Rosa Viëtor, Chimes at Dusk for Violin and Viola
Luigi Boccherini, Duo for Violin and Cello from La Musica Notturna Delle Strade di Madrid
Niccolò Castiglioni, Romanze
Gaetano Donizetti, String Quartet no. 17 in D Major
About the American Symphony Orchestra
Now in its 59th season, the American Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski, with the mission of providing music within the means of everyone. Music Director Leon Botstein expanded that mission when he joined the ASO in 1992, creating thematic concerts that explore music from the perspective of the visual arts, literature, religion, and history, and reviving rarely-performed works that audiences would otherwise never have a chance to hear performed live.
The ASO’s signature programming includes its Vanguard Series, which presents concerts of rare orchestral repertoire, and various other events dedicated to enriching and reflecting the diverse perspectives of American culture. During the summer months, the ASO is the orchestra-in-residence at Bard’s SummerScape and performs at the Bard Music Festival.
As part of its commitment to expanding the standard orchestral repertoire, the ASO has released recordings on the Telarc, New World, Bridge, Koch, and Vanguard labels, and live performances are also available for digital streaming. In many cases, these are the only existing recordings of some of the forgotten works that have been restored through ASO performances.
For more information, please visit americansymphony.org.
About the Performers
Violinist, Robert Zubrycki, is Concertmaster for the New York City Chamber Orchestra, a member of the American Symphony Orchestra, the Stamford Symphony and the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra. He has served as Concertmaster for the New York Choral Society at Carnegie Hall, Encores! at City Center, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, he performs for the American Ballet Theater and is Assistant Concertmaster for Orchestra Moderne. A veteran of dozens of Broadway shows, Robert’s recent shows include: Kiss me, Kate, Carousel, and She Loves Me. He can be heard on the recent cast recordings of Brigadoon, An American in Paris, Paint Your Wagon (violin and mandolin) and solo violin for The Mad Ones. He appears frequently on the 92nd St. Y’s Lyrics and Lyricists series.Robert won an Emmy Award for his musical contribution to the documentary, The Curse of the Bambino, and he can be heard on the documentary, Oliver Sacks: His Own Life. His numerous television appearances include an appearance with Céline Dion on the Tonight Show, and he has recorded with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennet. As a chamber musician, Robert was the first violinist for the Queen’s Chamber Band and the Queen’s Chamber Trio. The Trio’s critically acclaimed recordings of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven are available on the Lyrichord label. He toured the United States with the Abaca String Band, including performances at the Chautauqua Institute and the White House. He also performs with the Bard Festival Chamber Players. Robert is on the Board of Directors for the Cultural Arts Coalition in Brewster, NY, where he is Director for Concerts Around the Corner at the Studio Around the Corner. Beyond musical ventures, he is currently the Chair for the Putnam County Economic Development Corporation, a US Masters Swimming Coach and Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor, and a NASM Certified Personal Trainer.
Violinist, James Tsao, is originally from Los Angeles. He graduated from the Juilliard School where he received his Bachelor and Master degrees in Violin performance. Now he's a first violinist in the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and is frequently featured in their chamber music performances. He’s a member of the American Synphony Orchestra. Also, he's performed in many Broadway shows including The Light in the Piazza and South Pacific. In addition, he toured (nationally and internationally) and recorded with Barbra Streisand. Other luminaries he's performed with include Barry Manilow (GMA), Celine Dion (Tonight Show), and Aretha Franklin (Letterman Show).
Violist, Adria Benjamin, resides in New York and is a member of many of the city’s outstanding orchestras, including the American Symphony Orchestra, New York Pops, Amici New York and the Stamford Symphony. She has performed as a recitalist on NPR, at the 92nd Street Y, in Europe, Asia and Israel, and has participated in numerous orchestra and chamber music recordings, as well as commercial and film score recordings. She performs annually at the Bard Festival. Adria was a founding member of the critically acclaimed Eos Orchestra, the OK Mozart Festival, and of the New York Viola Society. Her teachers include Mary Jane Metcalfe, Francis Tursi (Eastman), Karen Tuttle (Peabody) and Joey Corpus. While pursuing a Masters Degree at the Peabody Conservatory, Adria served as Karen Tuttle's teaching assistant and was awarded the Peabody Prize for Outstanding Viola performance. Adria is a faculty member of the College of the Performing Arts/Mannes Prep, where she teaches viola, chamber music and is Director of Orchestras. Her conducting studies were with Gustav Meier and Robert DeCormier.
Cellist, Emily Brausa, leads a diverse and dynamic performing career. She has toured worldwide with a wide-range of engagements such as: Madeleine Peyroux at the Rose Theater, Ra Ra Riot at Pemberton Festival, a Japan tour with New York Symphonic Ensemble, Saturday Night Live with Beck, and two overnight performances of Max Richter’s eight-hour Sleep with American Contemporary Music Ensemble outside in Los Angeles’ Grand Park. An alumnus of Boulez’s Lucerne Festival Academy, Emily is an enthusiastic advocate of contemporary music. She was one of five cellists to compete to play Elliott Carter’s Cello Concerto during Juilliard’s centennial celebration, and she was a member of Lost Dog New Music Ensemble for seven years. Recently, Emily was involved with three brand new off-Broadway productions, and she premiered several chamber works with Tribeca New Music and Chelsea Opera. Emily is a member of American Symphony Orchestra, plays regularly with American Ballet Theater, and was last seen performing pre-pandemic in West Side Story on Broadway. She is on faculty at Third Street Music Settlement and holds both a Bachelor and Master degree from The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Darrett Adkins and Joel Krosnick.
Important Safety Information to Keep in Mind:
At Magazzino, we are continuing to implement the highest standard of health and safety protocols.
If you are a New York State resident:
We encourage you to download the Excelsior Pass app for digital proof of COVID-1 vaccination or negative test results.
Once the app is downloaded you will click “Get My Pass” and scroll down to “Get Started.” From there you will enter your information. The app will generate your QR code that you will present to us upon arrival to Magazzino.
If you are unable to download the app please bring alternative proof of the following:
Full vaccination record, showing that it has been 14 days or longer since your complete immunization OR
A negative PCR test administered 72 hours prior OR
A negative antigen test administered 6 hours prior.
If you are visiting from out of state, please bring proof of the following:
Full vaccination record, showing that it has been 14 days or longer since your complete immunization OR
A negative PCR test administered 72 hours prior OR
A negative antigen test administered 6 hours prior.
Important Note: If you have not had your second vaccine dose by June 27th, you will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result as an alternative.
Be sure to also take a look at Magazzino’s COVID guidelines ahead of the event and please note that we will not be using our social distancing devices, however, everything else mentioned will remain in effect.
