Genadi Zagor.Many agree that “classical” music, as it has existed for at least the past century, is endangered. Though presenters try to innovate, the audience for this music continues to dwindle. Founded in 2003, the PostClassical Ensemble is adding its own twist to modernize what many feel to be an antiquated art form.
“Overall, our mission has been successful so far. Our events tend to draw a younger, more culturally curious demographic,” said Jeffrey Parks, PCE’s Managing Director.
Artistic Director Joe Horowitz and Music Director Angel Gil-Ordóñez are the driving forces behind PCE. Horowitz is the leading scholar in the history of American orchestras and a former artistic director for the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Brooklyn Symphony. Gil-Ordóñez, a native of Spain now residing permanently in D.C., is a renowned conductor and a knight in the Order of Queen Isabella. They formed PostClassical to find new models for classical presentation. They create what Parks termed “immersion experiences,” which include film screenings, dance, colloquia, artist encounters and visual arts exhibitions. The group also premieres new work and performs rarely heard interpretations of existing repertoire.
“It’s a natural evolution of what we do — finding new ways for new audiences to engage with music that’s classically based, but alive and relevant — not under glass or preserved in a pristine state somewhere,” explained Parks.
PCE’s ’11-’12 season kicks off tonight at Bohemian Caverns with the first in a three-concert series dubbed PostClassical Underground. This evening’s program features Russian pianist Genadi Zagor playing an all-Gershwin program with extended improvisations just as Gershwin intended, but rarely heard. In January, Min Xiao-Fen, a master of the Chinese pipa, will perform Chinese folk songs along side improvisations over jazz standards by Monk, Mingus and Miles Davis. The series culminates in February, with trombonist David Taylor leading a trio through a selection of jazz and experimental music.
“We knew we wanted to do a more informal, cutting-edge showcase in a nightclub setting, we wanted to get connected to the U Street scene,” said Parks on why the Caverns was chosen as the venue for the Underground series. “It’s an intimate environment, they’re very eclectic about their programming, they have a fantastic audience, and let’s face it, they’re a true D.C. landmark.”
In addition to this series, PCE’s season includes one of the world’s most famous flamenco vocalists, Esperanza Fernandez, performing at Georgetown University. The Ives Project is a three-day celebration at Strathmore celebrating composer Charles Ives, with pianist Jeremy Denk. Finally, David Taylor will also perform with PCE for a “re-contextualization” of composer Franz Schubert.
“We want to help prove that there are younger audiences out there that are hungry for a substantial cultural and intellectual experience without the notion that this is some kind of ‘elitist’ or class-stratified activity,” said Parks. “If they’re walking away saying ‘That was classical music? I enjoyed that — I got it,’ then that’s a huge success for us and for the field.”
Genadi Zagor will perform 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight at Bohemian Caverns. Tickets are $20. For more information about PostClassical Ensemble’s 2011-2012 season, visit the group’s web site.
