Celebrates 34 Years

A sea of melodious notes cascaded over the astounded guests at the Newport Music Festival 2002, held July 12 - 28. The festival — located at the seaside town’s magnificent “summer cottages” — began its 34th season of distinctive chamber music, American debuts, world-class artists, and special events. Yamaha Corporation of America celebrated its 15th anniversary as a proud sponsor of one of America’s most renowned and beloved festivals.

Bulgarian pianist Ludmil Angelov at Marble House

“It is every arts organization’s dream to have a major corporate sponsor,” says Dr. Mark P. Malkovich III, who celebrated his 28th year as general director at this year’s festival. “Our dream has come true for the past fifteen years in enjoying such a close and rewarding relationship with Yamaha Corporation of America. Terry Lewis, the Senior Vice President, has become a valued friend in addition to lending his unparalleled support.”

A Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand, a Yamaha Disklavier DC7 Pro and a Yamaha C7 conservatory grand were among the 24 pianos played in concerts at several of Newport’s famous mansions. This year, 52 artists from around the world performed an astounding 819 pieces of music, both well known and rare, for more than 30,000 attendees. Performances took place at The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House, Belcourt Castle, Rosecliff, and Ochre Court, with additional performances held aboard the cruiser “Vista Jubilee,” the Wakehurst and Rosecliff Tents, Newport’s Regatta Club and in the Atrium of Newport Hospital.

Georgian pianist Alexander Korsantia warms up before his concert at Rosecliff

The Newport Music Festival was founded in 1969 and was the forerunner of the Romantic revival, now popular worldwide. The festival has achieved undisputed recognition as a showcase for both emerging international artists in their North American debuts and for up-and-coming American artists. It presents 64 concerts each season for 17 days in mid-July. In festival tradition, the popular retrospectives of major composers, continued with a series of Chopiniads. Eighteen afternoon programs were devoted to the complete chamber, vocal, and piano masterpieces — a total of 306 individual pieces — of 19th Century Polish composer Frédéric-François Chopin. Among the highlights was the world premiere of a newly-constructed Chopin “Prelude.”

Mei-Ting Sun performed a selection of Scarlatti, Schubert, and Brahms at the Opening Night Gala. The 21-year old Chinese/American who was the first place winner of the June International Piano-e-Competition, co-sponsored by Yamaha, replaced Georgian pianist Eliso Virsaladze, who was forced to cancel due to visa delays. “If there was one I could have hoped for to replace Mme. Virsaladze, it would have been Mei-Ting Sun,” notes Malkovich. “Yamaha and Terry Lewis came through for the Newport Festival once again.”

Seventeen-year-old Georgian pianist Aleksandre Tsomaia performs at The Breakers

In addition to Mei-Ting Sun, 15 artists made their festival debut, including pianists Ludmil Angelov from Bulgaria, Alexander Korsantia from the Republic of Georgia, Klára Würtz from Hungary, and making his North American debut, 17-year old Georgian Pianist Aleksandre Tsomaia, who performed an early evening of Georgian composer Tsintsadze during the “Festival Prelude” concert. Other unforgettable, returning festival pianists included Yamaha artists Frederic Chiu and Pedja Muzijevic, Agustin Anievas, John Bayless, Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Nelson Goerner, Carlo Grante, Alexei Grynyuk, Thomas Hrynkiw (who also served as vocal director), Alain Jacquon, Piers Lane, Hamish Milne, and Daniel del Pino.

“The artists from around the world are grateful for the Yamaha pianos which are spread throughout the Festival in great profusion,” notes Dr. Malkovich.“Many artists have become ‘Yamaha Artists’ after having played those remarkable instruments here in Newport for the first time. Yamaha and the Newport Festival artists have a great love affair!”

The Newport Music Festival, in a Rhode Island community renowned for its “splendor by the sea” elegance, has been embraced by classical music aficionados and artists as among the summit venues for outstanding classical music performances, and has garnered several accolades. The festival has been chosen five years in a row as one of a dozen international cultural seminars sponsored by Washington’s Smithsonian Institution; it ranks with Tanglewood, Ravinia, and Aspen — out of 1,100 music festivals — as one of the most respected in the country by the International Directory of Special Events; and, for the third consecutive year, it has been included in “America’s Elite 1000 - The Ultimate List,” by Cadogan Publications as one of only 19 nationally recognized events to be honored in the prestigious company of the Academy Awards, the Metropolitan Opera, the Kentucky Derby, Miss America, and the U.S. Tennis Open.

Ukrainian pianist Alexei Grynyuk performs at The Breakers	Hungarian pianist Klára Würtz performs Mozart at The Breakers

 

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