AshleyBathgateBlog

Hi everybody!

Well it’s finally summertime and I am getting some much needed fun and sun!

Since my last post I have had quite a few performances in and around the city, including another appearance with the Bang on a Can All-Stars on the Look and Listen Festival, a few concerts at Le Poisson Rouge, and some memorable recitals in upstate NY as well.

The concert with Bang on a Can took place at an art gallery in SoHo called OK Harris and featured the works of Paul Lansky, Martin Bresnick (both of whom were at the concert for live interviews), Louis Andriessen, Arnold Dreyblatt and many more. I  enjoyed playing in this space mainly due to wonderful acoustics and a beautiful array of sculpture and artwork surrounding us! The audience was also surrounding us, as opposed to seated in front, which created a much more personal and inclusive feeling that night.

Next were two concerts at Le Poisson Rouge (www.lepoissonrouge.com). If you have not been to this venue, which happens to be on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village, you MUST go immediately! Every night there is something exciting going on, be it a DJ spinning house and hip hop, a Steve Reich premiere or a trendy folk music group jamming from the West Coast.  The idea of this “club”  is to combine the art of music, cuisine and drink. The atmosphere is very retro-chic and the vibe is totally chill.  My first appearance there was with the chamber orchestra SymphoNYC, directed by Paul Haas. The program was a series of short compositions (by Haas) based on Barber’s Adagio for Strings, strategically placed within the Adagio to make one seamless work.  To conclude, we played the Adagio on it’s own without the “flection” pieces. The next concert was with the Canadian Chamber Orchestra of New York with which I have been playing since the fall. No, I’m not Canadian but my Dad is so, close enough. Anyways, this concert was entitled “Opera Trash” and featured the lovely and extraordinary Mezzo-Soprano, Ariana Chris. We basically got to play every beautiful and sexy Aria you can think of, everybody was happy, end of story.

The most recent performance of note was with Yale Alums at the Yale Club in NYC. This was a ‘pilot’ concert, if you will, of what hopes to be an on-going chamber music series at the club. The evenings’ line-up donned an all Ives program (Ives was a student at Yale University) with remarks by professor of composition and theory, Michael Friedmann: Ives Piano Trio ( ME!! Nicholas DiEugenio, violin and Adam Bloniarz,piano) a selection of songs sung by Abigail Nims, another fabulous Mezzo, and The Unanswered Question performed by Ensemble Polifonica, directed by Julian Pellicano. It was a wonderful concert in a wonderful venue. Here’s to many more like it….Souvenir de Florence perhaps?

Lastly, I am pleased to tell you that The Lorien Trio, of which I am a member, received third prize in this year’s international Fischoff Chamber Music Competition which was held at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana! Although we will be a bit more scattered geographically next year, the trio will continue and will bring you some wonderful music in the 2009/2010 season! Check out the Audio/Video page for a glimpse at some of our performances this year.

So, that about sums up my spring as far as concerts go. This summer I will be staying in NYC, looking for a new apartment, and practice practice practice! In August I’ll be giving a few recitals in San Juan, Puerto Rico with my pianist friends Theresa Kim and Wei-Jen Yuan! I will also be making an appearance at the Windham Chamber Music Series Gala concert in early July. Stay tuned for more Schedule updates!

Have a great summer! xxxxooooxxxx

Happy Spring!

Finally some sunshine after a long winter!  I am so ready for leisurely walks and lazy afternoons in the park. Around this time of year I always have to talk myself out of three things: hopping on a plane to Tahiti, blowing my money on new dresses and buying a dog that fits in my purse.  So far I’ve managed to harness the urge, but the season is young.

Now, here’s what’s crackalackin…

Recently I returned to New Haven for a concerto appearance with the Yale Philharmonia, which was really a treat! So many friendly faces both on stage and off.  I was especially pleased to see my teacher, Mr. Parisot , who is celebrating his 50th year at Yale University! In fact, there will be a Yale Cellos concert to honor him at the YSM on April 2o and then at Zankel Hall in NYC the following evening, April 21. The program will feature music of Ezra Laderman, Dave Brubeck, Villa-Lobos and more.  At the end of that week (April 26th to be exact) you can catch me back in Have, rocking the continuo part of Haydn’s Creation with the Yale Glee Club! The piece is amazing… it is also long. It is amazingly long, therefore, one will feel extremely elated about having experienced amazing-ness for such a lengthy period of time.  So don’t miss it!

This year has really been all about contrast. I’ve had so many opportunities to explore different genres of music from early to contemporary to all-out rock’n'roll!  About a week ago, I took the stage once again with the ever-so-cool Bang on a Can All-Stars…this time they brought a friend: Lee Ranaldo, best known as a co-founder  and guitarist of the band Sonic Youth.  He wrote a piece called How Deep are Rivers? (a map is a good piece of paper) which concluded the other night’s program and basically lit the roof on fire with a SICK (this is a good thing) guitar solo that escalated into a whirlwind of sound: droning, pulsating, high frequency, radio interference, in your face, louder IS better, go for broke, turn red in the face, break all your bow hair, set off some hearing aids- -kind– of– stuff.            Ya, that felt good.

I will be playing again with the All-Stars at the Look and Listen Festival on…

May 1, 8pm: OK Harris.

Works by Meredith Monk, Steve Reich, Martin Bresnick, Tania Leon, David Lang, Paul Lansky, and many more.  Check out the website!!    http://www.lookandlisten.org/media/press/

Also, take a look at some new photos in the Gallery from my concert with the Newburgh Symphony Orchestra!

Take care for now! -Ash

Hey there!

So I just got back from a concert with the All-Stars  in Vancouver, BC and I must say this is one of the most charming cities I have ever seen. We stayed on Granville Island in a charming hotel on a boulevard quite reminiscent of  Toon Town if I may say so. All the stores and cafés are so colorful and cute, the roads are cobble-stoned and people sing romantic french songs in the square on Monday mornings.  I was salivating at every bakery and deli and I actually had time to drink my coffee sitting down instead of spilling it on myself as I chase down a taxi. And get this, cars in Vancouver stop for you to walk across the street. There are very few blinking RED HANDS lurking about. My friend remarked that he has recently commited to waiting on the sidewalk  for the light to change instead of the normal, three feet from the curb–ready to dash to the next block stance I have become quite accustomed to since moving to the city. I think he may have something there. Just because NYC is fast paced, doesn’t mean we can’t slow things down a bit from time to time.

The concert was at the Chan Centre at UBC. FABULOUS HALL is all I have to say. The acoustics are superb and so was the crowd. I had the most wonderful time playing with the All-Stars as well. The best part is that all the instruments are amplified in this group, including me. I am so used to having to “project” as a cellist it was a pleasure not to worry about it for once. We had an incredible sound engineer, Jody Elff who made sure everything was sounding the way it should, giving each instrument an equal playing field.  At times, the sound was so big it was awesome– in the real sense of the word. I felt happy to be part of something like that, it’s invigorating.

Don’t forget to check the Schedule page for some new concerts I have in April!  I have also added a few new photos for your entertainment.

Next Up:  Feb 20th,  The Lórien Trio makes it debut at Sudler Hall in New Haven CT. This is a piano trio that was started this past fall by myself, Nicholas Dieugenio (violin) and Ilya Poletaev (piano). The program will include works by Haydn, Beethoven and Schumann. Hope to see you there!

February 27th is a cello/piano recital at the Chapel of the Holy Innocents at Bard College with pianist Lucas Wong. I am very excited about this program mainly because all the pieces are new to me and hopefully some of them will be new to you as well. The Fauré Sonata and Ballade by Martin Bresnick are of special interest. I know you will enjoy them!  And even if not, there is always Piazzolla—everybody likes Piazzolla.

Until next time, be well and takes things slow. -Ashley

P.S I am listening to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ new album Raising Sand ….unbelievable, give it a listen.

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah!

I hope all of you are enjoying the holiday season where ever you may be! I will be spending time with family and friends in Saratoga Springs, NY which is buried in a foot of snow right now. Finally a White Christmas!!

After a brief regression to childhood, it’s back to work! There is a lot happening this winter and spring so be sure to check in every so often for updates. First, on February 8th I will be joining the Bang on a Can All-Stars (Evan Ziporyn, Mark Stewart, Robert Black and David Cossin) for a concert at the Chan Centre in Vancouver, BC, Canada! This concert promises to be a fun one with an all contemporary program of music by David Lang, Michael Gordon, Thurston Moore, Julia Wolfe, Lukas Ligeti and Brian Eno. For more information please visit the All-Stars’ website at www.bangonacan.org.

Next I will be performing in recital with Pianist Lucas Wong at Bard College, my alma mater, on the 27th of February. Lucas and I went to the Yale School of music and he is currently a Collaborative Piano Fellow at the Bard Conservatory of Music. The program features works by Bach, Beethoven, Faure, Piazzolla and Martin Bresnick. Bresnick wrote his Ballade for cello and piano in 2004 for cellist Andre Emelianoff, who coincidentally is part of an ensemble, the Da Capo Chamber Players, in residence at Bard College. (Six degrees…always)

Following this concert I will also have two guest appearances with the Newburgh Symphony and the Yale Philharmonia. March 14th will be Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Dvorak’s Silent Woods in Newburgh NY and then April 4th in New Haven will feature Saint-Saens 2nd Cello Concerto. Hope to see you there!!!

In the meantime, I have had a lot of musical opportunity here in New York City and am enjoying a great deal of teaching and performing. I am thankful to have met so many wonderful musicians and new friends as well as stay in touch with old ones. Here’s to a fabulous 2008 and and even better 2009!

Thinking of you all,

Ashley

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one of my favorite holidays and times of year! The leaves have turned, the air is crisp and everyone is enjoying the last warm days of the season. I for one, am kind of looking forward to the first snow fall. But, before I break out the Christmas lights, I’ll be checking out this year’s Hallow’s Eve parade in the Village! (By the way, for those of you who don’t know, the Village is the coolest part of NYC — a mon avis– and I plan to reside there…. if only in my dreams.)

New York is amazing and so full of life! There is always something happening be it a concert, a party or just a walk Central Park. I am constantly finding new nooks, crannies, cafe’s and just plain beautiful snapshots of life. Needless to say, my sensory system is still on overload and most likely will be until this time next year.

At the moment, I am preparing a few new works for performance, namely Derrick Wang’s cello sonata which will be performed at Ars Nova this November 16 with Wei-Jen Yuan, pianist extraordinaire (please see the Schedule Page for details on all upcoming concerts). Following that I will be working on a few recording projects and making a few guest appearances here and there—-stay tuned for an update of my concert with the Bang on a Can All Stars!

I’ll have more for you in the coming weeks, including some new audio/video clips and who knows, maybe some wacky Halloween pics to boot!

Enjoy the day, enjoy the weather and the people around you!

Be well,

Ashley

Hi everyone!

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful summer because I sure did! China and Korea were amazing! The concerts were well received and took place in some of the finest halls that Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai had to offer. We even got to play in the  Forbidden City Concert Hall (in Beijing). The sights were unbelievable and more importantly, the time spent with friends was unforgettable. Having friends from the area didn’t hurt either seeing as we had no idea what to eat or where to go out for a good time. I can honestly say that both Korean and Chinese food are #1. FABULOUS for very different reasons and #2. nothing like they are in the states. Whenever you order Chinese takeout from now on, understand that this is NOT real Chinese food. Now, I like me some General Tso’s every once and a while but somehow I cannot enjoy it as much after tasting the finer cuisine that both Beijing and Shanghai had to offer. ( I even ate Brains, yes, little piggy brains and they were delicious!) We also climbed the Great Wall which was probably my favorite attraction visited in China. Granted I almost killed myself climbing to the top but it was well worth the struggle. (I will post some pictures in the gallery)

Korea was very different from China in almost every way; food, culture, architecture, entertainment. What was nice is that we have five days to really explore on our own and experience the life there. There was not nearly as much freedom when we visited China due to concert/rehearsal scheduling, flights, etc. If you ever do have the chance to go, I recommend at least a week in each city. The one thing both places had in common…. Karaoke! I have never sang so well and so badly at the same time, in so many different Karaoke (or Noreban as they say in Korea) bars. They have actual buildings dedicated solely to Karaoke. Folks, its name be-eth Party World and we need-eth it HERE!
When I returned to New Haven there was obviously a bit of a let down, especially since I was saying goodbye to a lot of friends who had graduated in May and were moving away as I have done. It is difficult to accept that the people with whom you spent so many days or even years, are now oceans away. I can only hope that we will have the opportunity be together again some day.

So, here I am in the middle of Manhattan, in my little 5th floor walk-up, and it is really a dream come true. I recall visiting the city on several occasions as a kid and wishing I could just stay. Well, now I can and it turns out that this city is a lot bigger than one can imagine. The next few weeks will be all about exploration. New places, new faces, new everything.

I will keep you updated as always, but please check out my new Schedule page for a detailed list of my upcoming performances. Look forward to seeing you soon!

Luv,

Ashley

Hi Friends!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! For me it has been a wonderful time with family and friends. Lots of beach, great food and good times.

In less than two weeks I will be heading to China and Korea with the Yale Philharmonia to give a few concerts in Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai. When I return, there will be a performance at the Bard Summerscape/New Albion Festival, featuring works by John Adams and Somei Satoh. I will be reuniting with many Yale colleagues to give this performance which promises to be an exciting one!

Stay tuned for a slate of fall events! I am looking forward to seeing you and meeting new faces!

Happy Fourth of July! -Ashley

Hello Friends!

Well, we are fast approaching the end of what has been a fantastic school year and I for one am looking forward to this summer’s slate of events.

This coming Saturday, May 3rd, I will be playing a trio arrangement of Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires with my good friends Dawn Wohn(violin) and Brian Hsu(piano). If you recall I gave a quick mention of this piece in my last blog.

The following day, the Yale Philharmonia will make its annual appearance in Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall for an all Prokofiev program featuring his Classical Symphony, selections from the Romeo and Juliet Suites and the Fourth Piano Concerto (Left Hand) with soloist Boris Berman, chair of the piano faculty at Yale. This year the school has celebrated Mr. Berman’s 60th birthday along with his many contributions to the music world both literary and artistic.

Later this summer I will join the Yale Philharmonia for concerts in Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul, July 15-27. The performances, tagged as the “march for peace” in Beijing will be in alliance with the city’s Cultural Olympiad during the build up toward the Summer Games which begin August 8th. The YSM and the Central Conservatory of Music will join together to form a huge orchestra for Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony. Of course this a very important year for the US and China in terms of improving relations and I am proud to be part of a school that will contribute to a hopeful detente between our nations.

Upon returning, I will be visiting my alma mater, Bard College, for a performance of John Adam’s Shaker Loops and Somei Satoh’s “Toward the Night” in the New Albion Festival running August 1-10. I hope to see some of you upstate New Yorkers there!

Then folks, it’s adios New Haven, hello NYC! I have pretty much waited an entire young life to live in this city and now it’s finally gonna happen. Wish me luck and I will keep you posted of any and all developments!

Much love. -Ashley

Greetings folks!

I hope you are enjoying the sound/video clips I have posted from my January concert!

The Carnegie recital was a blast! I must say it was extremely exciting to be in front of such a warm and friendly audience. But with that behind us, I am gladly having the chance to work on new repertoire for spring performances.

In about a week I will be heading to the beaches of San Juan, Puerto Rico for some much needed R&R. On March 13, 9m, some friends of mine will join together for a chamber concert at The Gallery Inn, located atop the north wall of San Juan, overlooking the sea. The hotel is owned and run by Ms. Jan D’Esopo, a Connecticut-raised artist who relocated to Puerto Rico in 1961 to continue her work (check out www.thegalleryinn.com). Needless to say I am looking forward to my flight out of this frigid berg.
When we return from paradise, Noelia and I, along with fellow violinist Nicholas DiEugenio will be hosting “Concerto Night” on March 29th in Sprague Hall, Yale University. I have decided to play Saint-Saens Concerto No.1 in A minor(1872). The remainder of the program will feature Schnittke’s Viola Concerto(1985) and Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto(1935).

Saint-Saens wrote his first cello concerto at age 37 for cellist/luthier August Tolbeque. Compositionally flattering for the cello, there is hardly ever instance of imbalance between soloist and orchestra. Furthermore, Saint-Saens managed to fit the standard three-movements into one seamless work full of dialogue between the two. To me it is one of the more straight forward concerti, no orchestral introduction needed, clearly stated, simply put.

Alban Berg’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra was commissioned by violinist Louis Krasner and was composed during the time Berg was writing his opera Lulu, which he did not finish. In fact, the concerto was Berg’s last work before his death in December 1935. Divided into two movements: Andante-Allegretto and Allegro-Adagio (the first two sections meant to represent life and the latter, death and transfiguration), it seems to me almost too perfect in terms of symmetry. Berg uses a fascinating combination of serialism and tonality which develops atop a rhythmic motif throughout the piece. Just when you think it’s getting a little too serious, he throws you into a dance between violin and orchestra in which you can only be swept up. It is the juxtaposition of character which makes this piece so beautiful and gripping. Having heard a recent performance at Carnegie Hall of Christian Tetzlaff and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, I was honestly blown away. Never had I heard a concerto begun so softly and eerily, nor executed with such confidence than on this night.

Schnittke’s Viola Concerto is one of the most musically and technically challenging pieces written for the instrument. Composed for Russian violist Yuri Bashmet, the piece’s driving melody throughout the work is actually a German/French mixture notating Bashmet’s name: B-A-Es-C-H-Mi or in english: Bflat-A-Eflat-C-Bnatural-Enatural. (Schnittke often encoded his friends names in musical letters within his scores.) Nearly a forty minute concerto, the piece demands much from both performer and audience in terms of endurance. This is by no means “ear-friendly” music and requires a strong character to execute the ideas and spirit that Schnittke had in mind. Having suffered a severe stroke after finishing the work he had this to say of his music:

“In a certain respect the piece has the character of a - temporary - farewell. For ten days after finishing work on it, I was placed in a situation from which there was hardly any way out. I could only slowly enter a second phase of life, a phase through which I am still passing. Like a premonition of what was to come, the music took on the character of a restless chase through life (in the second movement) and that of a slow and sad overview of life on the threshold of death (in the third movement).”

Switching gears, later in the semester there will be a series of student recitals not to miss! On April 2nd, I will be part of a premiere piece on the New Music New Haven series at Yale written by Bryan Senti, a student composer of the school and on May 3rd, I will join violinist Dawn Wohn in her very sexy rendition of Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires for violin and strings. This is an extraordinary tango-inspired work which incorporates elements of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons , a piece with which we are all familiar. Originally for his folk ensemble nuevo tango the work was not intended for virtuoso violin. About a decade ago, a man named Leonid Desyatnikov arranged it for strings and solo violin, weaving in allusions to Vivaldi’s work and showing us by way of quotation that the seasons in Argentina, Piazzolla’s homeland, are opposite to those in Italy, Vivaldi’s homeland. Very interesting and fun piece to say the least.

If you get a chance, stop by Sprague Hall next Thursday (March 6th) to catch faculty composer Aaron J. Kernis’ Ballad for cello and piano on the New Music New Haven concert at 8pm. I will be joined by pianist Jeannette Fong.

Until next time,

Ashley