Newport Music Festival & Yamaha Celebrate 18 Years Together
BUENA PARK, CA (October 21, 2005) — Dr. Mark Malkovich III, general director of the famed Newport Music Festival, celebrated his 75th birthday in grand style. Each July, his birthday falls in the height of the summer season in Newport, R.I., the seaside mecca for chamber music aficionados. As has been true for each of his 31 years as director, Malkovich marked the occasion with American debuts, unique chamber music performances and special events held at the spectacular Gilded Age "summer cottages" of Newport, among the most grand edifices in America.
Yamaha has been Newport's official piano since 1987, and this year contributed 26 pianos, including CFIIIS concert grands; C7, C6, and C1 conservatory grands; a Disklavier® GT2; an S4 grand; and a U1 upright piano.
"It was such fun to have a plethora of pianos," says Malkovich. "We had more pianists than usual, partly because our popular 'Victor Borge Composer Series' featured the complete piano and chamber works of Claude Debussy and selected chamber works of Joseph Haydn. Each pianist had his or her own piano this year for practicing, which was just terrific – a first!"
Nineteen pianists were among 44 artists from 17 countries featured at the 37th annual festival, held from July 8 – 24. Pianists Marian Friedman (South Africa), Michael Endres (Germany), Marc Laforet (France), Tatiana Goncharova (Russia), Jorge Federico Osorio (Mexico), Luisa Prayer (Italy) and Grigorios Zamparas (Greece) and six other artists made their Newport recital debuts. Pianist John Lenehan (England) performed with Romanian violinist Eugen Tichindelean and Kazakhstanian contrabassist Bekezhan Rakishev, as the string masters joined the illustrious ranks of 127 artists and ensembles making their North American debuts at Newport since its inception. Full piano recitals were offered by John Bayless (US), Bernadene Blaha (Canada), Yamaha artist Frederic Chiu (US), Ivan Davis (US), Kevin Fitz-Gerald (Canada), Thomas Hrynkiw (US), Alain Jacquon (France), Hamish Milne (England), Yamaha artist Pedja Muzijevic (US), Daniel del Pino (Spain) and Valerie Tryon (England).
"I heard about Michael Endres from a friend, The Boston Globe's outstanding music critic Richard Dyer. I was blown away," says Malkovich. "Michael said, 'I know a pianist on your same wave length, Marian Friedman,' who hadn't visited America in many years. She plays like a painter who deals in miniatures, a pianist's pianist. It was indeed a nice birthday present to myself. And I brought back Marc Laforet, whom I had written about for Musical America when he won the Chopin Competition in 1985."
Nearly 550 pieces of music were performed in 62 unique concerts at The Breakers, Rosecliff, Marble House and The Elms mansions, and six other locations, including a champagne buffet lunch and "Bay Watch" concert on the Vista Jubilee cruise ship.
"No summer festival has introduced a larger number of pianists," says Malkovich, "and Yamaha has certainly helped put us on the map. We have a familial feeling about our long association with Yamaha, great affection." He cites Newport's designation, for the fifth consecutive year, in "America's Elite 1000—the Ultimate List," the very best American luxury goods, shops, services and special events, as visible proof of the auspicious relationship.
"This was one of our most successful festivals," he adds. "About 25,000 attended and more people than ever told me the festival had given them such joy. That's a wonderful word, joy, to describe how they feel and I accept that with gratitude."
The Newport Music Festival 2006 will be held on July 7-23. For more information, please visit www.newportmusic.org.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
Yamaha has been Newport's official piano since 1987, and this year contributed 26 pianos, including CFIIIS concert grands; C7, C6, and C1 conservatory grands; a Disklavier® GT2; an S4 grand; and a U1 upright piano.
Yamaha Artist Frederic Chiu performs at the 2005 Newport Music Festival. |
Nineteen pianists were among 44 artists from 17 countries featured at the 37th annual festival, held from July 8 – 24. Pianists Marian Friedman (South Africa), Michael Endres (Germany), Marc Laforet (France), Tatiana Goncharova (Russia), Jorge Federico Osorio (Mexico), Luisa Prayer (Italy) and Grigorios Zamparas (Greece) and six other artists made their Newport recital debuts. Pianist John Lenehan (England) performed with Romanian violinist Eugen Tichindelean and Kazakhstanian contrabassist Bekezhan Rakishev, as the string masters joined the illustrious ranks of 127 artists and ensembles making their North American debuts at Newport since its inception. Full piano recitals were offered by John Bayless (US), Bernadene Blaha (Canada), Yamaha artist Frederic Chiu (US), Ivan Davis (US), Kevin Fitz-Gerald (Canada), Thomas Hrynkiw (US), Alain Jacquon (France), Hamish Milne (England), Yamaha artist Pedja Muzijevic (US), Daniel del Pino (Spain) and Valerie Tryon (England).
"I heard about Michael Endres from a friend, The Boston Globe's outstanding music critic Richard Dyer. I was blown away," says Malkovich. "Michael said, 'I know a pianist on your same wave length, Marian Friedman,' who hadn't visited America in many years. She plays like a painter who deals in miniatures, a pianist's pianist. It was indeed a nice birthday present to myself. And I brought back Marc Laforet, whom I had written about for Musical America when he won the Chopin Competition in 1985."
Nearly 550 pieces of music were performed in 62 unique concerts at The Breakers, Rosecliff, Marble House and The Elms mansions, and six other locations, including a champagne buffet lunch and "Bay Watch" concert on the Vista Jubilee cruise ship.
"No summer festival has introduced a larger number of pianists," says Malkovich, "and Yamaha has certainly helped put us on the map. We have a familial feeling about our long association with Yamaha, great affection." He cites Newport's designation, for the fifth consecutive year, in "America's Elite 1000—the Ultimate List," the very best American luxury goods, shops, services and special events, as visible proof of the auspicious relationship.
"This was one of our most successful festivals," he adds. "About 25,000 attended and more people than ever told me the festival had given them such joy. That's a wonderful word, joy, to describe how they feel and I accept that with gratitude."
The Newport Music Festival 2006 will be held on July 7-23. For more information, please visit www.newportmusic.org.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
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