CCMOnStage Presents

PORAT and Beethoven

 

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2022, Robert J. Werner Recital Hall

The Ariel Quartet

String Quartet-in-Residence at CCM

Gershon Gerchikov, violin
Alexandra Kazovsky, violin
Jan Grüning, viola
Amit Even-Tov, cello

Musical Selections

Ariel Quartet Repertoire

  • Four Ladino Songs for String Quartet (world premiere) 
    Matan Porat (b. 1982)
    Commissioned by Ann and Harry Santen and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, for the 20th Anniversary of the Ariel Quartet     
    • I. Floating - Meno mosso
    • II. Scherzando
    • III. Variation I - poco piu mosso, Theme - Variation II, nervous - piu mosso, Variation III - Variation IV, calmer - Variation V - Variation VI, slow, almost timeless - Variation VII - Theme
  • String Quartet in E-flat Major Op. 74  “Harp”     
    Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)
    • I. Poco adagio – Allegro
    • II. Adagio ma non troppo
    • III. Presto
    • IV. Allegretto con variazioni

Composer's Note

By Matan Porat

The Judeo-Spanish language, also known as Ladino, was originally spoken in Spain but after the Edict of Expulsion in 1492 spread across the Balkan, Turkey and Morocco among Jews.

These Four Ladino Songs were chosen from a rich heritage of folksongs, almost all of which are dealing with the themes of love and pain. The quartet is in three contrasting movements.

The first movement consists of two songs, “Los Bilbilicos” and “Yo Era Ninya”, and depicts the yearning of a faraway loved one.

The second movement is a scherzo, full of humor and wit, on the text of “mi suegra, la negra”, a humorous text about an evil stepmother who makes the life of the bride miserable.

The final movement is a theme with seven variations on “Durme, Durme”, which concludes with the quartet singing the theme and nursing a baby to sleep.

The quartet was commissioned by Ann and Harry Santen and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, for the 20th Anniversary of the Ariel Quartet.

Los Bilbilicos 
Los bilbilicos cantan 
Con sospiros de amor 
Mi neshama y mi ventura 
Estan en tu poder

La rosa enorece 
En el mes de mai 
Mi neshama s’escurece 
Sufriendo del amor

Mas presto ven palomba 
Mas presto ven a mi 
Mas presto tu mi alma 
Que yo me vo morir

The Nightingales 
The nightingales sing 
With sighs of love 
My soul and my fate 
Are in your power

The rose blooms 
In the month of 
May My soul darkens 
Suffering from love

Come quickly my dove 
More quickly come to me 
Come, you my soul, 
For I will surely die

Yo era ninya 
Yo era ninya de kaza alta 
No savia de sufrir 
Por kaer kon ti berbante 
Me metites a servir

I was a girl 
I was a girl from an upper class family and I never knew of any suffering, 
Because I fell in love with you, 
You’ve brought me misfortune.

Mi suegra, la negra 
Mi suegra, la negra  
Con mí se daquileya  
Yo no puedo más vivir con ella   
Ella es muy fuerte, como la muerte   
Más presto me veré sin ella

Un día, asentada con mi marido  
Ella detrás como un enemigo  
Me dió un pillisko, me dió un modrisco Más presto me veré sin ella

En los días de la dulzura 
Ella ensembra la amargura 
El güerco venga, por la soltura 
Que yo ya no puedo vivir 
Con ella con mi suegra, la negra

My mother-in-law, the dark one 
My mother-in-law, the dark one  
Taunts me  
I cannot live with her anymore  
She is very strong, like death  
How quickly I can see myself without her 

One day, sitting with my husband,  
She was behind me like an enemy,  
She gave me a pinch, she gave me a big bite  
How quickly I can see myself without her

On the sweetest of days 
She sows bitterness 
May the devil come and take her away 
For I can no longer live with her 
With my mother-in-law, the dark one

Durme, Durme 
Durme, durme ijiko de madre 
Durme, durme sin ansia i dolor 
Durme, durme sin ansia i dolor

Sleep, sleep 
Sleep, sleep; mother's little boy 
Free from worry and from pain, 
Free from worry and from pain.

About the Ariel Quartet

Described by the American Record Guide as "a consummate ensemble gifted with utter musicality and remarkable interpretive power," the Ariel Quartet has earned a glowing international reputation. The ensemble is comprised of Alexandra Kazovsky, violin; Amit Even-Tov, cello; Gershon Gerchikov, violin; and Jan Grüning, viola. The group was formed in Israel in 1998 and has served as CCM’s string quartet-in-residence since 2012.

rock stars of the classical scene

Cincinnati Enquirer

The Ariel Quartet

A portrait of Gershon Gerchikov.

Gershon Gerchikov

Assistant Professor of Violin

A portrait of Alexandra Kazovsky.

Alexandra Kazovsky

Assistant Professor of Violin

A portrait of Jan Grüning.

Jan Grüning

Assistant Professor of Viola

A portrait of Amit Even-Tov.

Amit Even-Tov

Assistant Professor of Cello

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On stage

Upcoming must-see events + top news from UC's College-Conservatory of Music

Tickets for CCM's spring 2022 events are on sale now! View our full calendar of events.

Performance information and updates will be shared on the CCM website and in our Next OnStage e-newsletter.

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CCM News

1

Ariel Quartet welcomes Pavel Vinnitsky in "Best of Brahms"...

March 22, 2024

The Ariel Quartet presents its final CCM concert of the 2023-24 season at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26 in Robert J. Werner Recital Hall. The program includes two of the most beloved works in the chamber music canon: Beethoven’s intense Op. 59 No. 1 and Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, featuring faculty artist Pavel Vinnitsky. Tickets are on sale now through the CCM Box Office.

2

New CCM apparel available for purchase online

February 14, 2024

Show your school spirit this spring with official CCM apparel! New UC College-Conservatory of Music apparel is available for purchase online. CCM's Spring 2024 t-shirt and hoodie designs can be ordered online now through March 18, 2024.

3

Celebrated Jazz Harpist Park Stickney gives performance at CCM...

February 13, 2024

UC College-Conservatory of Music hosts jazz harpist Park Stickney for a concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Robert J. Werner Recital Hall. Celebrated internationally for his innovative playing, Stickney is joined by CCM Professor of Saxophone James Bunte and CCM Jazz Bass student Teddy Mechley. The concert, which is Stickney’s Cincinnati debut, is free and open to the public.

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Sponsors

Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust
Scholarship and Resident Artist Sponsor
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
CSO/CCM Diversity Fellowship Sponsor
The Corbett Endowment at CCM
Dance Department Sponsor
All-Steinway School Sponsor
Louise H. & David S. Ingalls Foundation, Inc.
Community Partners
The Joseph and Frances Jones Poetker Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation, Ritter & Randolph, LLC, Corporate Counsel
Visiting Artists & Thinking About Music Sponsor
Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer 
Greg Mathein 
Gary & Barb Cummins 
Jim & Linda Miller 
George & Carroll Roden
Musical Theatre Department Sponsors
Genevieve Smith
Opera Production Sponsor
Rafael and Kimberly de Acha
Opera D’Arte Sponsor
An Anonymous Donor
Estate of Mr. William A. Friedlander
Mrs. William A. Friedlander
Dr. Randolph L. Wadsworth
Judith Schonbach Landgren and Peter Landgren
Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen
Elizabeth C.B. Sittenfeld
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman
Mrs. Theodore W. Striker
Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer
Ariel Quartet Sponsors
Jan Rogers
Willard and Jean Mulford Charitable Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation
Choral Studies Sponsors
Anonymous
  Classical Guitar Sponsor

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Hirschhorn
Orchestral Sponsor
Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation
Starling Pre-Collegiate Sponsor
Starling Strings Sponsor
Dr. Timothy E. and Janet L. Johnson
Thom Miles and Roberta Gary
Organ Department Sponsors
Keyboard Club of Cincinnati
Louis and Susan Meisel
Piano Department Sponsors
Kevin and Nancy Rhein
   Wind Studies Sponsor
Buddy Rogers Music
LINKS Sponsor
Sponsors listed as of Sept. 7, 2023

General Information


Box Office

Located in the CCM Atrium, the Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 12:30-6 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; and one hour prior to curtain for all ticketed performances. MasterCard, Visa and Discover cards are accepted.

  • Location: CCM Atrium Lobby next to Corbett Auditorium
  • Telephone: 513-556-4183
  • Email: boxoff@uc.edu
  • Mail: CCM Box Office, P.O. Box 210003, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0003

Parking

Convenient parking is available in the CCM Garage at the base of Corry Boulevard off of Jefferson Avenue. Additional parking is available in garages throughout the UC campus. Any questions concerning on-campus parking should be directed to UC Parking Services at 513-556-2283.


Tax Credit

If you find that you cannot attend your performance, your tickets may be donated for tax credit as a charitable contribution. Simply notify the Box Office prior to the performance to release your seats, and give your name and address. A tax donation receipt will be mailed to you.


COVID Careful

UC has updated its indoor masking policy to align with the CDC's recommendations for masking. Beginning on Saturday, March 12, all masking restrictions will be eliminated in all CCM spaces, so long as rates of hospitalization and transmissibility remain in the low-to-medium zones. This means masking will no longer be required in classrooms, rehearsals, performances, etc. for everyone — students, faculty, staff, campus visitors and audience members. Members of our community who prefer to continue to wear a mask when indoors or in close proximity with others for personal safety should continue to do so. Please continue to be sensitive and respectful to the needs of others as we work through this transition. CCM performance venues are currently reduced to 50% capacity. Additional measures may be in place as conditions develop based on guidance from the CDC and UC's physician-led COVID response team. Visit the UC Public Health website and CCM's COVID-19 website for additional information and updates.


Lost and Found

If you have lost an item, contact lost and found at 513-556-9413.


House Policies

The House Manager has been instructed to minimize the disturbance to patrons already seated when accommodating latecomers. The director and producer of each production select times that are least likely to interrupt the performance, and latecomers will be seated only during these times. Latecomers who miss these opportunities will not be admitted until intermission. Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted.


Cameras, Phones and Recording Devices

The video or audio recording of performances is prohibited.

The use of cameras, with or without flashes, recording devices, cellular phones and other electronic devices inside the theater is prohibited. Please leave them with the House Manager.


Smoking and Refreshments

Smoking and refreshments are not permitted in the theater. Effective May 1, 2017, smoking and tobacco use (including chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes) shall be prohibited by students, staff, faculty, visitors, vendors and contractors at all times in or on University of Cincinnati properties, including events on university property during non-school hours. This includes all shelters, indoor and outdoor theaters and athletic facilities, bridges, walkways, sidewalks, residence halls, parking lots, and street parking and garages owned by the university.


Hearing Enhancement

Telex listening devices are available for checkout during performances in both Patricia Corbett Theater and Corbett Auditorium. Please inquire at the Box Office.


Wheelchair Seating

Wheelchair seating is available in both Corbett Auditorium and Patricia Corbett Theater. Seating is limited, so reservations should be made with the Box Office when ordering tickets. These seats are subject to availability.


Group Sales

The Box Office can accommodate groups for major productions and concerts. Preview and benefit performances are also available for some productions. For more information, call the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183.


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CCM's faculty and staff and its state-of-the-art facilities make possible the professional training and exceptional education on which CCM believes the future of the arts relies. The school's roster of eminent faculty regularly receives distinguished honors for creative and scholarly work, and its alumni have achieved notable success in the performing and media arts. More than 150 internationally recognized faculty members work with students from around the world, specializing in eight areas of study.


Know Your Exit

Map depicting exits from Robert J. Werner Recital Hall

Performance dates and repertoire are subject to change. View CCM's current calendar of events.

The purpose of these performances is educational, and they are part of a University of Cincinnati academic program.