Alexander Fiterstein and Ronn Yedidia Play Joe's Pub Tonight, 5/27

Clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein will perform with contemporary composer and pianist Ronn Yedidia at Joe's Pub tonight, May 27 at 9:30 p.m.  The duo will play works from their most recent CD released by Naxos Records on March 27 as part of Naxos's American Classics Series.  The concert will feature pieces for clarinet and piano composed by Mr. Yedida including Impromptu, Nocturne and World Dance, Farewell, Nathaniel, and Concertino.      

The concert will take place at Joe's Pub located at 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased on their website, www.joespub.com, or by calling 212-967-7555.

Alexander Fiterstein was introduced to Ronn Yedidia's music in 2006 through friend and pianist Alon Goldstein who was then performing one of Mr. Yedidia's piano works in recital, and the following year Concertino was commissioned for Mr. Fiterstein.Concertino began as a clarinet and piano piece but quickly became a larger and more ambitious work that grew to include a string trio. Mr. Fiterstein explains that the work "rapidly shifts from one mood to the next and has many different musical elements; European 'chanson,' Mediterranean and Balkan dance, and klezmer music are all formative components of the piece. Concertino is a large scale work, in one continuous movement and quite symphonic in parts."  The work was premiered by Mr. Fiterstein in 2007.  For the concert this piece will be performed in the clarinet/piano version, without strings.

Farewell, Nathaniel is dedicated to Ronn Yedidia's colleague, Dr. Nathaniel Amadeus Yangco, who lost his life in a tragic scuba diving accident.  It is scored for clarinet and piano in honor of Nathaniel's father, Dr. Bienvenido Yangco, who is a clarinetist.  The work was premiered at New York's Merkin Concert Hall in the spring of 2008 by Alexander Fiterstein. 

Impromptu, Nocturne and World Dance for clarinet and piano was commissioned in 2010 by the Weller family to honor the birth of the family's newborn twins.  The three separate movements derive from Mr. Yedidia's inspiration to bring together numerous musical expressions within three diverse musical contexts.  Mr. Fiterstein notes that this music, in general, is "a panorama of ethnic influences. Particularly in World Dance which is like an anthem of ethnic musical sources but has evidence of classical elements as well. In World Dance there are both Eastern European Jewish influence and Arabic music together, which makes for an interesting combination."  Mr. Fiterstein added, "Both Ronn and I grew up in Israel, although we met in New York.  Ronn recalls visiting the town where I grew up, Nazareth Illit, which is next to the Arabic town of Nazareth. Driving through town you hear particularly rhythmic music on the street and when I hear the Arabic section in World Dance (close to the end of the piece) I think of Nazareth and the Galilee inIsrael, which is an area with a real mix of cultures and influences, and it really comes through in music."   

Clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein is recognized for playing which combines flawless technique and consummate musicianship with graceful phrasing and a warm soulful tone. Considered one of today's most exceptional clarinet players, he has performed in recital and with prestigious orchestras and chamber music ensembles throughout the world. Recipient of a 2009 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Fiterstein has been praised by the New York Times for possessing a "beautiful liquid clarity," and the Washington Post wrote, "Fiterstein treats his instrument as his own personal voice, dazzling in its spectrum of colors, agility, and range." He is the founder of the chamber group The Zimro Project, a member of the Goldstein-Peled-Fiterstein Trio, and frequently commissions and performs new works. Mr. Fiterstein is a first prize winner of the Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition and has received numerous awards from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. He is a clarinet professor at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Ronn Yedidia was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1960. His compositions have galvanized the attention of performing artists worldwide during the last two decades. His works have been featured in major concert halls and documented on film, radio and television. He has won high critical acclaim from leading newspapers around the world, as both composer and pianist.