Two world class musicians give humble performance

PLAINS - Monday evening, visitors of the Plains United Methodist Church were given a very special treat for a very small price. A classical duo, violinist Paul Rosenthal and pianist Doris Stevenson performed for an hour in front of the visitors who filled the pews of the church.

The two musicians were part of a non-profit organization, The Piatigorsky Foundation, whose mission is to bring live classical music to communities throughout the United States. It is the goal of the organization to bring professional musicians to small communities and give people the opportunity to listen to music they would not typically have the chance to experience. The small concerts are held in relaxed, informal settings where people normally congregate, whether it be in churches, schools, museums, community centers, or even in prisons.

The foundation was created in 1990 by the cellist Evan Drachman, the grandson of the famous Russian cellist, Gregor Piatigorsky, who preformed not only in famous concert halls, but also in small communities. He was known for saying, “Music makes life better. Music is neither a luxury nor a frill-it is a necessity! It is rich. It is imaginative. And it is for everyone.”

To begin the small concert, Rosenthal gave a violin solo performance, playing Bach’s, “Two Ancient Dances.” Rosenthal has worked in Alaska for 44 years as a working violinist. A graduate of Julliard and the University of Southern California, Rosenthal has played in multiple countries on multiple continents. He taught at the University of Alaska, created a Chamber Music Festival, and played in small communities throughout the North. Last summer, Rosenthal was presented with the Alaskan Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring the hundreds of concerts he gave in Alaska.

After Rosenthal’s beginning solo, Stevenson played a piece by Debussy, “Gardens in the Rain.” Stevenson, also an accomplished musician, has played all around the world. She’s played in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Kennedy Center, Salle Pleyel in Paris and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. She’s played with esteemed artists of the likes of Gregor Piatigorsky, Ruggiero Ricci, and Paul Tottelier. She is the founding member of the Sitka Summer Music Festival in Alaska, and has performed in many other music festivals. Stevenson has also been on numerous CD tracks and classic music compilations. One such CD recently received a Grammy Nomination. She has also taught at the University of Southern California, and has been an Artist in Residence at William College since 1987.

Once the two completed their solo pieces, which caused everyone to rise in applause, the two performed a lengthy and complex duet piece together, Violin Concerto in E Minor: Allegro molto appassionata, Adante, Allegretto non troppo-Allegro molto vivace, by F. Mendelssohn.

Once the two completed what they called the, “meat and potatoes,” of the concert, they wrapped up with three small pieces, two solos and a small duet. The whole time the two musicians played, the crowd watched intently as the world famous violinist and pianist performed on the tiny raised platform in the church. At the end, the crowd gave a standing ovation.