viola congress – Boris Pigovat

Sept, 2017: Amazing performance of “Poem of Dawn” at 44th International Viola Congress, Wellington, New Zealand

September 30, 2017in Poem of Dawn0by Boris Pigovat

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Sept, 2017: Amazing performance of “Poem of Dawn” at 44th International Viola Congress, Wellington, New Zealand

Here is another amazing performance of Poem of Dawn, Romantic Music for Viola and Symphony Orchestra, by Anna Serova, this time with conductor Hamish McKeich and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Jun, 2015: NAXOS Records launched “Holocaust Requiem & Poem of Dawn” CD

Nov, 2013: “Poem of Dawn” for Viola and Symphony Orchestra at Il Settembre dell’Accademia

Composed in 2010, Poem of Dawn was performed by Anna Serova for the first time in 2013, with maestro Nicola Guerini and the Croatian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra. In 2015, they recorded the piece for the Naxos Records CD, which won Pizzicato’s Supersonic Award.

Dear Followers! I have been granted special approval to publish the video recording from this performance on my website. Please note that it is illegal to copy or re-distribute the video for commercial or any other usage. I hope you will enjoy listening to this beautiful performance. Thank you for understanding.

Anna Serova, Viola
Hamish McKeich, Conductor
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Duration: ca. 15 minutes
2 Fls, 2 Obs, 2 Cls, 2 Bsns, 4 Hns, 2 Tpts, 3 Tbns, Timp, Perc, Hp, solo Vla, Str.

Click to play the video

PLAY

2013: Sonata for Viola and Piano - International Viola Congress at Krakow and "home is where..." CD

April 27, 2013in Sonata for Viola and Piano0by Boris Pigovat

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2013: Sonata for Viola and Piano - International Viola Congress at Krakow and "home is where..." CD

I composed Sonata for Viola and Piano in 2012 for violist Donald Maurice, after his great performance of the Holocaust Requeim at the Concert of Remembrance of 70th Anniversary of Kristallnacht in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2008.

Sept, 2017: Amazing performance of “Poem of Dawn” at 44th International Viola Congress, Wellington, New Zealand

Oct, 2011: Holocaust Requiem at the International Viola Congress, Wurzburg, Germany

The piece was conceived for the Home is where… CD launched by Atoll (New Zealand), and starring Donald Maurice and Richard Mapp.

Donald premiered this piece in 2013 at the International Viola Congress, in Krakow, Poland, with pianist Wioletta Fluda.
The Atoll CD was released that same year.

Later, in February and March 2015, the piece was performed at three concerts in the United States:
The American premiere was in Baltimore, featuring soloists Peter Minkler (viola) and Lura Johnson (piano).
Eight days later, in Houston featuring Lawrence Wheeler (viola) and Tali Morgulis (piano).
In March 2015, in Walden, Colorado, featuring Barbara Sudweeks (viola) and Jo Boatright (piano).

The first movement of Sonata was influenced by the strong emotional impact of two paintings: Sandro Botticelli’s Madonna del Magnificat (1483-1485) and и Madonna della Melagrana (Virgin with a Pomegranate) (1487).

While working on Sonata, I had an idea that it could also be performed as standalone piece; I named this piece Botticelli’s Magnificat.

I shared my idea with Donald and received his support. Donald premiered Botticelli’s Magnificat before the premiere of Sonata.

In 2013, this piece was performed by the young Israeli violist Matan Noussimovich (you can listen to the recording, below).

Below are some samples from the Home is where… CD and recordings from the U.S. premiere, and of Botticelli’s Magnificat.

Samples from the Atoll CD, featuring Donald Maurice (viola) and Richard Mapp (piano)

MOVEMENT 1 SAMPLES

Sonata for Viola and Piano 1 Movement Sample 1

Sonata for Viola and Piano 1 Movement Sample 2

MOVEMENT 2 SAMPLES

Sonata for Viola and Piano 2 Movement Sample 1

Sonata for Viola and Piano 2 Movement Sample 2

Sonata for Viola and Piano 2 Movement Sample 3

MOVEMENT 3 SAMPLES

Sonata for Viola and Piano 3 Movement Sample 1

Sonata for Viola and Piano 3 Movement Sample 2

Recording from the U.S. premiere in Baltimore, featuring Peter Minkler (viola) and Lura Johnson (piano)

Recording from the performance of Botticelli's Magnificat, featuring Matan Noussimovich (viola) and Pazit Gal (piano)

Oct, 2011: Holocaust Requiem at the International Viola Congress, Wurzburg, Germany

October 29, 2011in Holocaust Requiem0by Boris Pigovat

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Oct, 2011: Holocaust Requiem at the International Viola Congress, Wurzburg, Germany

Viola Congress at 2011 was the third time when Donald Maurice performed Requiem, after his great performance at the Concert of Remembrance for 70th the Anniversary of Kristallnacht.

Sep, 2023: the US premiere of the Holocaust Requiem

Jun, 2015: NAXOS Records launched “Holocaust Requiem & Poem of Dawn” CD

Feb, 2014: “Lux Aeterna” from the Holocaust Requiem, Pittsburgh, USA

Sept, 2012: “Requiem” CD received Pizzicato’s Supersonic Award

Oct, 2011: Holocaust Requiem at the International Viola Congress, Wurzburg, Germany

Nov, 2010: Launch of “Requiem” CD by Atoll, New Zealand

Nov, 2008: Concert of Remembrance of 70th Anniversary of Kristallnacht, Wellington, New Zealand

Oct, 2001: Memorial evening dedicated to the Babi Yar tragedy, Kiev, Ukraine

Holocaust Requiem for Viola and Symphony Orchestra (1994-1995)

Donald received an invitation to give the work’s first-ever performance in Germany, on October 15th at the final gala concert of the International Viola Congress in Wuerzburg.

The performance commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Babi Yar massacre, and featured Donald, with the Camerata Louis Spohr orchestra from Duesseldorf, conducted by Bernd Peter Fugelsang.

Below are some photos from the event, kindly given to me by Dwight Pounds.