EVENTS
SUSAN’S NEW RECORDING
“A Tempo”
Lisboa, Buenos Aires and New York.
FEATURING: Susan Palma-Nidel, flute; Pedro Jóia, guitarra and Hector del Curto, bandoneon.
Compositions by: Carlos de Seixas, Leonard Bernstein, Astor Piazzolla, Pablo Ziegler, Pedro Jóia, Anselmo Aieta, Artur Ribeiro and Raul Ferrāo
PROJECTED RELEASE DATE: JUNE 1, 2024
ABOUT THE RECORDING
EARTHQUAKE 1755 - THE ENLGHTENMENT & SEIXAS
The project began with Susan’s exploration of Portugal’s greatest and most famous Classical Composer, Carlos Seixas (José António Carlos de Seixas) inspired by Pedro’s love and knowledge of history. Seixas was a contemporary of Scarlatti. As the story goes, after Seixas sought Scarlatti out and Scarlatti heard him play (harpsichord, probably), Scarlatti said “You don’t need to study with me, I need to study with you.”
Most of Seixas’s work was lost in the World Changing 1755 Earthquake in Lisboa. Why World Changing?
The destruction of the city, including fires, a tsunami and virtually total damage to most of the southern part of the city caused by the quake, led to the appointment of architects, engineers (see Manuel de Maia), seismologists and politicians who revolutionized urban construction and seismology rebuilding much of Lisboa.
A despotic Monarchy changed its views when King Joseph I took the throne in 1750. He appointed the Marquis de Pombal chief minister, who revolutionized Portugal and orchestrated the rebuilding of Lisboa. Yes, he was a dictator (sort of benevolent), slavery was abandoned (temporarily), Jews were allowed to return and life for the everyman improved. The Reconstruction of Lisboa is now widely considered as the first major event of The Enlightenment. Voltaire (Candide is set during this period), Piranesi, Kant, Rousseau and many other luminaries of the day deemed the earthquake a world changing event that exposed the horrors of close living. Pombal’s design revolutionized the concept of building codes and it inspired construction of other urban areas including the Eixample in Barcelona in the late 19th century.
The original idea was to focus the music on Seixas and the upcoming celebration of the 270th anniversary of the earthquake in Lisboa in 2025, but the project morphed into much more. 4 tracks of Seixas’s music remain on the recording.
In 2019 Susan performed in NYC with Pedro, Hector and others and it was clear there was a very special chemistry among the three of them. After much research and discussion, Susan, Pedro and Hector selected, composed, arranged and recorded several classic tunes from Lisboa and Buenos Aires which appear on the recording. ‘Some other Time”.
In late January and early February 2023, Susan travelled to Portugal where she recorded several tracks with Pedro in Arraiolos, (Alentejo) and Lisboa. In May 2023, Pedro came to New York where the three recorded in Brooklyn. Susan returned to Portugal in late October 2023 to complete the recording.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
2024 North Country Chamber Players (NCCP)
Spring and Summer Programs
SPRING PROGRAMS
EXPLORER’S CONCERT. On June 1st, NCCP will present a preview of the Gala Concert for children and families. A tradition with the Players for many years, this concert is an open format where the musicians play and discuss the music with the patrons.
June 1 @ 4:00 PM Boys and Girls Club, Littleton NH.
Featuring EJ Hwang, piano
Spring Gala: NCCP celebrates Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue at 100
June 2 @ 5:30 PM Crystal Ballroom, Mountain View Grand Hotel, Whitefield, NH. Featuring Jazz Pianist EJ Hwang.
Come celebrate with SUSAN and the North Country Chamber Players as they perform this beloved work and compositions by Copland, Florence Price and others.
Susan will also perform as soloist on Gershwin’s Prelude for flute and Strings
SUMMER PROGRAMS - All concerts begin at 4:00 PM
Week 1: “American Masters”, featuring Branford Marsalis
July 13 OMNI Resort Mount Washington, Bretton Woods, NH
July 14 Mountain View Grand Resort, Whitefield NH
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is an avatar of musical excellence. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he has been nominated for a Tony and an EMMY as a composer, and was recognized as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts.
An ensemble player extraordinaire, Branford joins the North Country Chamber Players for a program of music by American Masters, old and new, from George Gershwin to Valerie Coleman.
Program:
Valerie Coleman: American Vein for oboe and double bass
Ellen Taafe Zwillich: Quintet for alto sax and string quartet
Rufus Reid: Cross Currents for alto sax, double bass and piano
Valerie Coleman: Maombi asante for flute, violin and ‘cello
George Gershwin: Song Medley
Week 2: Prodigy - Mozart and Mendelssohn
Featuring Bernhard Scully, horn
July 20 Dow Pavilion, Franconia
July 21 Dow Pavilion, Franconia
Program:
Ferdinand Ries: Flute Quintet in B minor, Op 107
W. A. Mozart: Horn Concerto No.4 in Eb Major, K. 495
Felix Mendelssohn: Sextet in D Major, Op. 110
Week 3: Masterpiece
July 27 Sugar Hill Meeting House, Sugar Hill NH
July 28 Mountain View Grand Resort, Whitefield NH
Program:
Alexander Borodin: Nocturne for string quartet
Mily Balakirev: Octet for flute, oboe, horn, strings and piano, Op. 3 Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57
Week 4: Summer Serenade
August 3 OMNI Resort Mount Washington, Bretton Woods
August 4 Mountain View Grand Resort, Whitefield
Program;
Franz Schubert/Abrahamson: Four Moments Musicaux for winds and strings
Carl Nielsen: Serenata in vano for clarinet. bassoon, horn, ‘cello and double bass
Johannes Brahms/Nex: Serenade No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11
Week 5: Glory of Bach - The Brandenburg Concertos
Featuring Kenneth Weiss, harpsichord
August 10 Dow Pavilion, Franconia
August11 Dow Pavilion, Franconia
Program:
P. D. Q. Bach: String Quartet in F Major “The Moose” S.Y2K
J. S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, 4 & 5
The Brandenburg Concertos
Three hundred years after they were written, Bach’s Six Concertos for multi-instruments remain icons of instrumental music
THIS FALL…
Susan will present two concerts in New York City playing the music from “A Tempo” with Pedro Jóia and Hector del Curto
At ShapeShifter Lab, 837 Union Street, Broooklyn NY, in their new and exciting location
Stay tuned here for announcements about additional performers and details on ShapeShifter and other events in NYC that week.
Ruca Rebordão, Susan Palma-Nidel, Pedro Jóia