PUTNEY — Yellow Barn’s 17th season of Artist Residencies continues this month with cellist Sarah Rommel, who returns to Yellow Barn with her Arioso Project, culminating in a free public performance on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7:30pm in the Big Barn.
Sarah Rommel (Yellow Barn ’18) aims to bring to light James Simon’s Arioso for solo cello, written in 1929, and unknown at the time of the composer’s death in Auschwitz, according to a release. Arioso was dedicated to the cellist Eva Heinitz, who emigrated to the United States and eventually settled in Seattle in 1948, where she became a much-respected and well-known cello professor. The Arioso manuscript is now part of the permanent collection of the University of Washington. Rommel has commissioned five composers (from Iran and the United States) to write a reflection on this piece as a way to “resurrect” it into the present day, through themes of creativity under oppression and in the context of more relevant and contemporary understandings of adversity.
James Simon (1880-1944) was considered a brilliant and talented pianist and composer whose works are still being unearthed and discovered today. Despite several opportunities to emigrate during World War II, Simon was so devoted to his homeland of Germany that he remained in Europe during the conflict, a decision that would eventually claim his life in the gas chambers of Auschwitz in 1944. It was observed that moments before his death he was seen jotting down what would be the last bits of music he would ever contribute to this world.
Through this project Rommel also strives to present a platform for early-career, diverse composers to be uplifted and heard. With support from Royalty Research Fund at the University of Washington, the Barlow Foundation, and a private patron with fiscal sponsorship through the American Composers Forum, Rommel commissioned new works from composers Aftab Darvishi, Rene Orth, Hilary Purrington, Kian Ravaei, and Derrick Skye.
The East Coast premiere of the Arioso Project will take place in the Big Barn on Nov. 13. Following the hourlong performance, Artistic Director Seth Knopp will moderate a conversation between Rommel and the audience about the program and her work to secure a future for Arioso. Admission is free. Tickets can be reserved in advance by calling 802-387-6637.
In 2008, Yellow Barn instituted its Artist Residencies, the first retreat program in the United States created specifically for professional, performing musicians. The purpose of the program is to further the art of the performance of classical music by providing an environment conducive to undistracted study, an exchange of ideas and opportunities for performance. Their content is defined by artists’ proposals and Yellow Barn’s artistic vision. Yellow Barn Artist Residencies are open to professional musicians of any age and at any stage of their career. For more information, visit www.yellowbarn.org.
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