The Beaufort Orchestra will perform Brahms and Dvorak

Perennial favorite Tamas Kocsis will return to the USCB Performing Arts Auditorium stage in Beaufort on March 4^th and 7^th to play Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major with the Beaufort Symphony Orchestra. According to Musical Director, Frederick Devyatkin, this concerto contains some of the most tuneful passages ever written for violin. Mr. Kocsis delivers them with skill and warmth - a master in command of his instrument at the height of his solo career.

Also on the program is Dvorak’s Symphony #9, subtitled ‘From The New World’, one of the most beloved pieces in all musical literature.  The second movement contains the poignant “Going Home” theme, which many of us could easily identify if it were posed as a “Jeopardy” question.

Maestro Devyatkin and Mr. Kocsis originally met during the time when Tamas served as concertmaster of the now disbanded Savannah Symphony. Devyatkin, also a violinist, is glowing in his praise of the high level of artistic talent Tamas brings to the Beaufort Symphony’s stage. In the recent past Kocsis has appeared with the BSO performing Beethoven and Dvorak Violin Concertos.  As the two have collaborated so often with The Beaufort Symphony, Brahms’ ‘Violin Concerto’ promises to be an exceptional treat for the audience.

Mr. Kocsis travels to Beaufort from his post as concertmaster of the Orlando Symphony, where he regularly performs as a soloist and chamber player. His wife, Alexandra, also with the Orlando Symphony, will be in the cello section for the two concerts.

The ‘New World Symphony’ of Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) was written in the winter and spring of 1893 while the composer lived and worked in New York City. Despite composing a considerable number of works while he was in America, Dvorak was said to have suffered great homesickness for his native Bohemia. He also lost the support of his patron in New York City and returned with his wife to Europe in 1895. Some say the beautiful English horn solo in the second movement of the ‘New World Symphony’, which later became known as the “Going Home” theme, was originally a spiritual. However, Dvorak denied that he used any existing melodies; and that he was instead just inspired by those he had heard.

Today, although many of his works remain popular, Dvorak is probably best known today for his ‘New World Symphony’. In 2009 it was named the most popular symphony in a poll taken by ABC Classic F.M Radio. On his Apollo 11 flight to the moon in 1969, Neil Armstrong included a recording of the ‘New World Symphony’. It is amazing to think about listening to it as he viewed the earth from such a distance, and then, on his return voyage, remembering the English horn solo as he was ‘Going Home’.

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), born in Hamburg, Germany, and Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) lived roughly in the same time period.  They did know each other and Dvorak admired and studied the music of Brahms. Both composers sit squarely in the time of European art music designated The Romantic Period. Before that two important periods were Renaissance/Baroque (Bach and Handel) and Classical (Haydn and Mozart). The term ‘Romantic’ does not refer to the ideas of chocolates and flowers that we associate with Valentine’s Day today.  Instead, compositions written during the Romantic Period, roughly the 19^th century, exhibited more emotion, used expanded forms, larger orchestras and new instruments, and had greater dynamic range. Music was performed in large concert halls, and many individual soloists and composers became immensely popular.

Johannes Brahms’ ‘Violin Concerto in D Major’ is considered among the most important literature written for the violin. It makes immense demands on the soloist.  His friend, Jacob Joachim, premiered the concerto on January 1, 1879 in Leipzig, Germany with Brahms himself on conductor’s podium. The program began with Joachim playing the Beethoven ‘Violin Concerto’, combining perhaps the two greatest works ever written for violin in one single evening.  The audience and musicians must have come geared up for an extraordinary event!

The Details:

The Beaufort Orchestra

Presents

Romantic Masterpieces

Frederick Devyatkin, Musical Director

Brahms – Violin Concerto in D Major

Featuring Tamas Kocsis, Soloist

Dvorak – Symphony # 9 “From The New World”

USCB Performing Arts Auditorium, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort

Thursday Evening, March 4th, 2010 - 8:00 P.M. - $30

Sunday Matinee – March 7th, 2009 - 3:00 P.M. - $30

Youth Through High School - $5

Tickets may be purchased on the Beaufort Orchestra’s website www.beaufortorchestra.org or

Call Ticket Fusion’s toll free number 1-877-548-3237

Remaining tickets at the door if available

This organization is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

It was a northern invasion of a different kind than the War Between the States.  These railroad and steamship heads, bankers, oilmen, corporation heads invested in the large plantation lands of the south for hunt clubs.  There was one woman developer – the remarkable Kate Gleason, owner of Dataw Island who became one of the largest property owners of Beaufort County.

Dataw Island’s Carolina Room is the perfect setting to hear the authors of Northern Money, Southern Land at the USCB Lunch With Author series on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.  Stephen Hoffius and Robert Cuthbert have edited and compiled into a fascinating book the Lowcountry Plantation Sketches of Chlotilde Martin, which were originally printed in 1931 for the Charleston News and Courier. Hoffius and Cuthbert will be joined by Martin’s grandson, author Roger Pinckney of Daufuskie Island, who has stories of his own.  Dr. Larry Rowland’s family inherited Dataw Island from Kate Gleason and may join in the day’s events.

As Martin recounted, the new owners of these coastal properties ranked among the most successful businessmen in the country and included members of the Doubleday, Du Pont, Hutton, Kress, Whitney, Guggenheim, and Vanderbilt families. Among the later owners are media magnate Ted Turner and boxer Joe Frazier. The plantation houses they bought and the homes they built are some of the most important architectural structures in the Palmetto State—although many are rarely seen by the public. In some fifty articles drawn from interviews with property owners and visits to their newly acquired lands, Martin described almost eighty estates covering some three hundred thousand acres of Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Colleton, and Berkeley counties.

Much of the property was purchased for hunting and was left undeveloped and protected; some of it remains so to this day. However, in many cases the development of that land over the last seventy-five years has been dramatic. When Martin first wrote about Hilton Head Island, she estimated that only about fifty white people resided there and on nearby Jenkins Island. She described beaches so wide and empty that private planes landed between the waves and the dunes. Other areas that were then isolated woodlands are today well-known residential communities, including Bray’s and Dataw, and Lady’s islands.

Martin’s lively sketches included stories of wealthy young playboys who brought Broadway showgirls down for decadent parties, tales of the first nudist colony in America, and exchanges with African American farmhands who wanted to travel to New York to see their employers’ primary homes, which they had been assured were piled high with gold and silver. In the process, Martin painted a fascinating landscape of a southern coastline changing hands and on the verge of dramatic redevelopment.

At the USCB Lunch With Author series on March 10, at the Dataw Island Carolina Room, all three authors will talk about their experiences with Chlotilde Martin, lead a Q & A period and sign books.  Roger Pinckney’s most recent book, Reefer Moon, will be available as well at the luncheon which starts at noon.  Reservations are necessary and can be made at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or calling  843-521-4147.  The all inclusive price is $42.

The palate-pleasing combination of signature food tastings from top local restaurants will be paired with well-known Lowcountry authors and topped with an exciting “The Heat Is On” chefs’ competition at Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry’s 4^th Annual Winter Fundraiser, COOKS & BOOKS, on Sunday, February 21, 2010 from 11:30 to 4:00 at The Mall at Shelter Cove.

Coordinated by LVL’s Friends of Literacy fund-raising organization, Cooks & Books promises to be an afternoon of culinary delights and entertainment.  Sonny Dixon of WTOC-TV Channel 11 in Savannah will serve as master of ceremonies.  Admission to Cooks & Books is $15 in advance and $20 at the door.  The ticket includes unlimited tastings, access to the Lowcountry authors, the chefs’ competition, “The Heat is On” and the opportunity to vote for a favorite tasting in “The Peoples’ Choice.”    For information please call 815-6616 or check the website www.lowcountryliteracy.org.

14 Lowcountry Restaurants Offering Tastings

Red Fish, Old Fort Pub, Antonio’s, Tapas, CQ’s, Wise Guys Lounge      Frankie Bones,Bistro 17, Alligator Grille, Charley’s Crab, French Bakery, Deli-By-The-Beach, Aqua Grille & Lounge, Kenny B’s French Quarter Café

9 Lowcountry Authors and Cookbook Authors – 12:30 pm-2:30 pm

Kathryn Wall

Patti Callahan Henry

Sallie Ann Robinson

Karen White

C.J. Lyons

Mary Kay Andrews

Jackie K. Cooper

Joni Graybill

Mark Yarbrough

“The Heat is ON” – Chefs’ Competition

• The first two rounds are elimination rounds and the third round will pit the winners of the elimination rounds against each other.

• The first round begins at 12:00 and will run for 30 minutes.

• The second round begins at 1:00 and will run until 1:30.

• The final round starts at 2:00 and will finish at 2:30.

• Chefs will be judged on creativity, taste, presentation and number of dishes created within a half hour’s time.

10 Competing Chefs

Stephen Stewart of TidePointe

Ryan Alpaugh of Alligator Grille

Keith Josefiak of Old Fort Pub

Rob Britton of Charley’s Crab

Yuri Gow of Antonio’s

Eric Seaglund of Aqua Grille & Lounge

Luke Lyons of   Frankie Bones

Russell Keane of Wise Guys

Kenny Ballard of Kenny B’s French Quarter Café

Chris Carge of Bistro 17

Chefs’ Competition Judges

Ron Andrews – Executive Chef @ Bray’s Island Plantation

Wolfgang Biere – pastry chef

Jean Vandeville, Culinary Instructor – Savannah Tech

Premier Preview Party

Friday, February 19, 2010   6:00-9:00 pm

TidePointe, a Classic Residence by Hyatt

The party will showcase event authors and feature a silent auction.  Guests will enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres creations by TidePointe Executive Chef Stephen Stewart in the newly redecorated Club House Tickets are $75.00 per person

Advance Tickets to Cooks & Books

Advance tickets can be purchased at; Literacy Volunteers’ Hilton Head office, 4 Oak Park Drive – off Mathews Drive; Literacy Volunteers’ Bluffton Office, 1-B Kitties Landing Way – off Rt. 46; Literacy Volunteers’ Beaufort Office, 1403 Prince Street; Burke’s Main Street Pharmacy, Hilton Head; Markel’s Cards & Gifts, Kittie’s Crossing; Le Cookery, Wexford Village Shoppes, Hilton Head