South Florida Classical Music Lovers

Classical-Connections is a new classical music concert reminder service.  We hope that you find it helpful. We appreciate you being a part of this special community and encourage your feedback on how we can expand and improve this service.  

Sincerely,  
Sharon DeWitt


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Sunday, March 2 at 2 pm
Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables 
Monday, March 3 at 8 pm
Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH MUSIC PRESENTS "ARABESQUES"

INFLUENCES
Mid-Winter Concerts set for March 2 at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, March 3 at the Broward Center for Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.  The awareness of Islamic culture and influences has been familiar to artists since archeological finds in Egypt created an Egyptomania craze in 19th century Europe and operas, (Salome, Othello, Cleopatra, etc.) furniture (ottomans, divans, Persian rugs, mother-of-pearl inlay) and fashion (turbans, harem skirts) began reflecting Middle Eastern origins. What was hidden behind the burkas and the veiled windows of the seraglios only served to fan the imagination of painters, writers and composers, who seized the opportunity to mine a foreign and exciting culture for inspiration and exotic spicing. Close Encounters With Music's concert, "Arabesques," which will be presented on Sunday, March 2, 2 PM at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables and Monday, March 3, 8 PM at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, reveals elements of Orientalism and exoticism in music as early as Mozart's and in, Debussy, De Falla and Rachmaninoff.

Cellist and artistic director Yehuda Hanani will be joined for this performance by violinist Peter Zazofsky, pianist Eliran Avni and the Florida Chamber Ensemble. The works include the captivating Mozart Violin Concert K. 219 in A Major, De Falla's bravura piano piece "Fantasia Batica"; Debussy's Sonate for cello and piano, with its arabesque motifs; and two early Rachmaninoff works linked to the Islamic traditions of Eastern Russia. 

For further information or to receive a season brochure, call Close Encounters With Music at 800/843-0778. Tickets are $25; $10 for students. Broward tickets are also available by calling 800/564-9539.

Visit the Close Encounters with Music website at www.cewm.org.