NOTES
Georg Friederich HAENDEL (1685, 1759) Allemande, Suite No.3 from HWV.428; Suite No.5 from HWV.438; Suite No.8 from HWV.433
Haendel was a composer of the Baroque period, born in Halle, Germany. Although he was German, he was considered one of Britain’s great composers, after becoming a British citizen. He is widely known as one of the most significant composers of the Baroque era in all its musical aspects: instrumental, vocal, sacred, secular, and opera. However, Haendel was better known for great choral masterpieces such as the Messiah, which is still performed on Christmas all around the world.
The keyboard works of Haendel were written in his early years, part of it probably when he was still in Germany. They were composed mainly for the harpsichord since the piano had not appeared yet. The suites were reworked at different periods of Haendel’s life and appeared in more than one work. He used many of his suites in his operas dance movements or his chamber works. Not intended for public performance, these suites have a structure that is more flexible and less ornamental than the suites Bach wrote in the same period. Both composers were born the same year. Therefore, Handel's keyboard music stayed in the shadow of Bach's more famed mastery of the instrument.
Other works by Handel are interpreted by the soprano Randa Rouweyha accompanied on the piano by Jeff Cohen on Saturday, February 20th.
Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683, 1764) Extrait de la suite en la
Rameau was a French composer of the Baroque period. He was the leading French composer of his time. Rameau also established himself as the most important French musical theorist. He wrote 65 keyboard pieces (for harpsichord) which he published in four books at different stages of his life. Rameau's compositions for the harpsichord were amongst the first to enjoy success on the original instrument. Except La Dauphine, all Rameau’s harpsichord solo pieces were written before he began composing for the stage. Rameau also composed operas; which were very well received and for which he was famous. In 1745, he was appointed composer of the King's chamber music (Louis XV).
Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sonata K.1
Scarlatti, the Italian Baroque composer, was very well known for his works for the harpsichord. He wrote around 555 sonatas solely for this instrument. Only a small part of Scarlatti's compositions were published during his lifetime. Nonetheless they started being published shortly after his death and are still published to this day. What characterizes most of Scarlatti’s sonatas is how they are influenced by Iberian (Spanish and Portuguese) folk tunes (since Scarlatti lived there for the majority of his life). Pianists only recently started playing Scarlatti’s sonatas in solo piano performances. There is a famous story about a contest that happened once between Scarlatti and Haendel. at Ottoboni’s palace in Rome. As a result, Scarlatti was considered better harpsichordist, but Haendel was acknowledged better organist. The contest eventually let to friendship and reciprocal appreciation.
Other works by Domenico Scarlatti are interpreted by the Italian Saxophone Quartet on Sunday, February 21 and by the pianist Andrè Gallo on Saturday, February 27.
BIOGRAPHIES
RACHA ARODAKY, piano
Education
Racha Arodaky, studied with Dominique Merlet, in the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (CNSMDP).
She studied with Yevgueni Malinine in the mythical Russian School in the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Moscow.
Festivals
The Chopin Festival in Bagatelle, Piano aux Jacobins in Toulouse, the Flâneries Musicales in Reims, the Domaine du Rayol, Les Heures Musicales du Haut-Anjou, the Chopin Festival in Nohant and in the Parc Floral of Vincennes, the Chopin Festival of Valldemossa in Majorca, and the festivals of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany and Brighton in the United Kingdom.
Racha Arodaky is the artistic director of the piano festival 'Musique à la cour' in the castle of Solliès-Pont (France).
Orchestras played with
The Orchestre National de France, the Orchestre Colonne, the Bohemia Symphony Orchestra of Prague, the Opera of Massy, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, the XXth century orchestra of Moscow and the Orchestre Pasdeloup.
Performance & venues
She performed as a recitalist in many concert halls such as Salle Pleyel and the Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Barge Music of New York, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, the Seoul & Pusan Concert Hall, the Manège de Reims, the auditorium of Strasbourg, the Palais des Festivals of Cannes and the Cairo's Opera.
Awards
At the age of 16, she won the first prize at the CNSMDP.
Racha Arodaky was the 'Révélation classique' of the ADAMI of the MIDEM classical awards for her Mendelssohn's recording (BNL). "This CD was awarded by the 'Choc de la Musique' the "Recommandé" of Classica magazine.
Recording
Her CD of Scarlatti was awarded 5 stars by “Diapason” and 4 stars by “le Monde de la Musique”.
Her last record, released by Air Note in fall 2009, is dedicated to Haendel's Suites.
FADHEL MESSAOUDI, Oud
Education
Fadhel Messaoudi studied the oral tradition and the Oud, In Gabès' Cultural Center - Tunisia.
Festivals
He participated in many festivals, in France and abroad : Festival of Sacred Musics in Fès, Festival of Rabat, Festival of Arles, Festival of Classical Music in Utrecht, Poetry Festival in Alberobello (Italia), Festival of Lodève, and others.
Awards
Fadhel Messaoudi was awarded several prizes by the ministry of Culture.
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