Activities of the International Ernest Bloch Society
Recent and Upcoming Bloch Performances and Events: the most recent and upcoming are at the top of the page.
If you would like a Bloch event listed here, please send the details in the following order to events@ernestblochsociety.org We will need from you: Date: month, year, day and time/ Name of event/ Artists/ Short description/ Venue (incl full address)/ booking details/ Website (if applicable)
2020
In view of the world lockdown in crowd activity and travel as of now (March 2020), please contact the organiser to see if any of these events will actually take place as scheduled
2020, May 17, Sunday
Yehudi Menuhin Competition, Jury Concert salutes Ernest Bloch
The Yehudi Menuhin competition of 2020 in Richmond Virginia, salutes the 140th anniversary of the birth of Ernest Bloch. The internationally renowned jurors of the Menuhin Competition will be joined by Artistic Director, Gordon Back, in a powerhouse evening showcasing chamber music at its very best. The programme also celebrates the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth culminating in the five jurors performing the brilliant Schumann Piano Quintet. (Pictured are the young Yehudi Menuhin and Ernest Bloch)
Pamela Frank (violin) *
Noah Bendix-Balgley (violin) **
Joji Hattori (viola) ^
Ralph Kirshbaum (cello) º
Anton Nel (piano) ˟
Gordon Back (piano) ***
Beethoven Sonata in A Major for Cello and Piano, Op. 69
Bloch Baal Shem: Three Pictures of Hassidic Life, B. 47 ** ***
Schumann Piano Quintet in E-Flat Major, Op. 44 * ** ^ º ˟
This concert is presented as part of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Mary Anne Rennolds Chamber Concert Series.
Postponed: New date will be announced in due course
The World of Ernest Bloch Day
Evening Gala Concert
Miriam Kramer Violin
Rivka Golani viola
Raphael Wallfisch cello
Three internationally acclaimed artists praised for their interpretation of Bloch’s music will each perform a major work in this celebratory concert. They will also invite the most outstanding participants in the masterclasses during the day, to perform alongside them in the concert. Bloch specialist, Dr Alexander Knapp, will introduce the Bloch works in the concert.
Miriam Kramer will perform Violin Sonata no 2, Poème Mystique, 1924, with pianist Nicholas Durcan
Rivka Golani will perform the Viola Suite of 1919 with pianist Michael Hampton
Raphael Wallfisch will perform Cello Symphony, 1954, with pianist Craig White.
Book at www.jmi.org.uk .
Concert £20, Students £10
See the flyer, more details, apply for the masterclasses and attend the event here (participation is free)
Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG.
More information from events@ernestblochsociety.org
Presented by International Ernest Bloch Society and the Jewish Music Institute.
Postponed: New date will be announced in due course
The World of Ernest Bloch Day – ALL DAY
Masterclasses, Discussion and Gala Concert
Miriam Kramer, Rivka Golani, Raphael Wallfisch ,
To celebrate the 140th anniversary of his birth, three internationally acclaimed musicians, violinist Miriam Kramer, violist Rivka Golani and cellist Raphael Wallfisch, all recognised as supreme exponents of his works, will lead masterclasses during the day focusing on some inspirational works that are well worth regular performance. The distinguished artists will be interviewed about their association with Bloch and will each perform one of his major works in the evening Gala Concert. They will also invite the most outstanding masterclass participants to perform alongside them in the concert. Bloch specialist Dr Alexander Knapp will talk about the composer after lunch, and introduce the Bloch works in the evening concert.
See the flyer, more details, apply for the masterclasses and attend the event here (participation if free)
Audience Bookings www.jmi.org.uk .
All-day (including gala concert) £25, Students £15 Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG.
More information from events@ernestblochsociety.org
Presented by International Ernest Bloch Society and the Jewish Music Institute.
2020, March 25, Wednesday 7.30 pm
Ernest Bloch, Concertino for Flute, Viola and Strings
(a short work, written in 1950)
London Chamber Orchestra, Christopher Warren-Green conductor Lucienne Renaudin Vary trumpet, Karen Jones flute, Rosemary Warren-Green viola
Also
Keith Burstein Memories of Bonn (world premiere)
Hummel Trumpet Concerto Beethoven Symphony No. 7
Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ £10.00 to £40.00 020 7730 4500 www.cadoganhall.com
2019
2019, November and 2020
Ernest Bloch, Solo cello suites and cello and piano works
Czech Cellist Frantisek Brikcius, will perform Bloch’s Solo Cello Suites and his cello and piano compositions in 2019 (the 60th anniversary of the death of Ernest Bloch) and 2020 (the 140th anniversary of the birth of Ernest Bloch) at the 4th and 5th BACH FESTIVALS in GERS in France Festival.iKosik.com and at the Chamber Music Concert Series in Prague - the FESTIVAL BRIKCIUS Festival.Brikcius.com
2019, October 17, Thursday 7.30pm
Ernest Bloch, Schelomo Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra
Raphael Wallfisch cello, Philharmonia Orchestra, David Hill Conductor.
Concert features also the World Premiere of Roxanna Panufnik’s 4 Choral Seasons, Duncan Rock baritone The Bach Choir and Debussy La Mer, Delius Sea Drift
Royal Festival Hall £55 - £20 www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Review: Raphael Wallfisch performs Schelomo with the Philharmonia reviewed by Malcolm Miller
2019, September 25, Wednesday 7.30pm
Ernest Bloch/Rebecca Clarke competition
Raphael Wallfisch, cello John York, piano
The programme centres around the Ernest Bloch/Rebecca Clarke competition for a viola piece that took place exactly 100 years previously. Raphael Wallfisch will perform the Ernest Bloch’s winning work, the 1919 viola suite, on the cello
Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore St, Marylebone, London W1U 2BP, 020 7935 2141
wigmore-hall.org.uk
2019, September 14, 3.00pm
Concert: ‘The music of Ernest Bloch
'Between classical learned music and Jewish music’ Emmanuelle Dijon presents a concert in tribute to Ernest Bloch- and also in homage to Joseph Lewinski, the great French biographer of Bloch who produced a four-volume work. The Programme includes Ernest Bloch’s Poème Mystique, Suite no 1 for Violin, Baal Shem and Enfantines. Also featured will be Maurice Ravel’s Kaddish and George Perlman’s Dances of the Rabbis. The artists will be Ariane Granjeon, violin and Laurent Cabasso, piano. Mairie du IVème arrondissement (area 4, borough Town Hall) 2 Place Baudoyer, 75004 PARIS, Métro : Hôtel de Ville, Free entrance.
Follow this link or contact emmanuelledijon@noos.fr
2019, June 12, 7:30 pm
Gala end of year concert of the Prague Music School GMHS
16 year old Matteo Hager won the honour of performing Ernest Bloch´s Nigun from Baal Shem, as soloist with other students of the Prague Music School GMHS accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra. This is the gala end of year concert of the Prague Music School GMHS. Prague Municipal House, náměstí Republiky 1090/ 5, Prague 1, Czech Republic
To see a video of Matteo performing Nigun with the Prague Symphony Orchestra in the Municipal House in Prague Press Youtube
2019, April 27, Saturday 8.00pm
Ernest Bloch, Sacred Service (Avodath Hakodesh)
The Georgetown Chorale conducted by Dr Richard Giarusso Sung in Hebrew and English, the Sacred Service stands as one of the most exceptional examples of Jewish liturgical choral music of the last century. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St NW, Washington, DC
www.georgetownchorale.org
2019, March 17, Sunday 10.00am – 7.00pm
Ernest Bloch’s Sacred Service
The Zemel Choir invites you to ‘Come and Sing’ - to learn, and perform, this beautiful work... from scratch! Ernest Bloch’s Sacred Service is unique amongst Jewish liturgical repertory in being a full setting of the Sabbath morning prayers. Unfolding over five parts, the work is set for baritone soloist (representing the cantor), choir and orchestra who, in various combinations, blend high art with Jewish sacred sounds... From Hebrew pronunciation to liturgical significance, Zemel's esteemed Musical Director, Benjamin Wolf, will guide you through the piece culminating in a final performance.
Concert: Belsize Square Synagogue, London NW3 4HX
Rehearsal: Peter Samuel Hall London, NW3 2QG, 10.00am, £20 for the day Contact: comeandsing@zemelchoir.org
(In preparation, you are welcome to join Zemel at their weekly rehearsals at 8pm on 4 & 11 March, 120 Oakleigh Rd N, London N20 9EZ.)
See the Flyer for this event. www.zemelchoir.org
2019, March 16, Saturday 7.15pm
Ernest Bloch, Symphony for Trombone and Orchestra
Isle of White Symphony Orchestra, Peter Moore (trombone)
Concert features Bloch’s Symphony for Trombone (or Cello) and Orchestra. This may well be a UK premiere performance of this work for Trombone. Concert includes Copland, An Outdoor Overture; De Falla, Ritual Fire dance; and Elgar Symphony no 1
Medina Theatre, Isle of Wight
www.iwso.info
2018
2018, December 7, Friday 7.30pm
Ernest Bloch: Schelomo, Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra
Natalie Clein cello
Opole Philharmonic Orchestra
Opole, Poland
filharmonia.opole.pl
2018, December 1, Saturday 7.30pm
Ernest Bloch: Two Last Poems (Maybe)
Anna Bell, (flute)
Thames Philharmonia
Concert features Bloch’s Two Last Poems (Maybe) for solo flute and orchestra (1958). Soloist Anna Bell. This is almost the last composition that Bloch ever wrote.
The concert also includes Beethoven’s Overture Leonora No 1, Beethoven’s violin Concerto and Saint-Saens’ Symphony no 2.
Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington
thamesphilharmonia.org.uk
2018, November 24, Saturday 7.30pm
Ernest Bloch: Concertino for Flute and Clarinet
St Derek Benton (flute) and Andrew Keck (clarinet)
West London Sinfonia
Concert features Bloch's Concertino for Flute and Clarinet, featuring two of WLS outstanding soloists, Derek Benton (flute) and Andrew Keck (clarinet) The concert also includes Brahms’ Violin Concerto and Stravinsky’s Petrushka
Michael and All Angels Church, Bedford Park, London W4 1TT
More details and flyer with booking information West London Sinfonia
2018, November 10, Saturday 7.30pm
Voices of Kristallnacht
Simon Wallfisch baritone
Norbert Meyn tenor
Gemma Rosefield cello
Danny Driver piano
Christopher Gould piano
Martin Behrman actor
Music and words marking the 80th anniversary of the pogroms, curated by Shirli Gilbert, Professor of Modern History at the University of Southampton. The programme will include unfamiliar gems by German-Jewish composers as well as witness testimonies, alongside Ernest Bloch, From Jewish life: Prayer; Robert Kahn, songs, three cello pieces op 25 tagebuch in tönen (solo piano); Max Kowalski English songs: Karl Rankl songs; Max Bruch Kol Nidre
St John’s Downshire Hill, Hampstead NW3 (Part of the Hampstead Arts Festival).
Further information incl. Booking Link
2018, November 8, Thursday 7.30pm
Ernest Bloch Vidui and Nigun
Raphael Wallfisch cello
Dresden Philharmonic, conductor: Michael Sanderling
Dresden
2018, October
Ernest Bloch: Symphony for Cello and Orchestra
(recording)
Raphael Wallfisch cello
BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Lukas Borowicz
This is the first recording of this work in the cello version. The alternative version that Bloch wrote is for trombone – see a performance of this on the Isle of Wight on 16 March 2019.
2018, September 23, Sunday 11:30am
Ernest Bloch: Suite ‘From Jewish Life’ and Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello
Natalie Clein cello
Yeol Eum Son piano
Wigmore Hall, London
wigmore-hall.org.uk
2018, September 1, Saturday 7.15pm
Ernest Bloch Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello
Natalie Clein cello
St Nicholas’ Church, Studland
2018, August 31, Friday 11:00am
Ernest Bloch Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello
Natalie Clein cello
St. Nicholas’ Church, Studland
2018, August 27, Monday 7:15pm
Ernest Bloch: Schelomo, Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra
Natalie Clein cello
Gieβen Symphony orchestra
Concert includes works by Bach and Zemlinsky
Stadttheater, Giessen, Germany
2018, July 8, Sunday 3.00pm
Anita Lasker-Wallfisch and the liberation of Auschwitz
Director, John Gilhooly felt compelled to invite Anita Lasker-Wallfisch to Wigmore Hall, London following her recent address to the Bundestag, to mark the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. For this event, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch – a survivor of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen – describes her life story and the importance of learning from one of history’s darkest chapters. She is joined on stage by her son, the acclaimed cellist Raphael Wallfisch and the pianist John York, for music by Bloch, Ravel and Korngold. You can see the live stream from the event here: You Tube
Wigmore Hall, London
2017
2017, September 11 Launch as SOAS of Ernest Bloch Studies edited by Alexander Knapp and Norman Solomon, published by Cambridge University Press. Miriam Kramer performs. To see and buy the book visit Amazon here.
2014
2014, November ‘Out of the Wilderness’ Natalie Clein, Rivka Golani and Raphael Wallfisch talk about and play Ernest Bloch Royal College of Music. Read More. or see flyer.
2014, September Presidents Recital, Steven Isserlis cello at 22 Mansfield Place
2012
2012, July Ernest Bloch music competition finals Royal College of Music
2011
2011, JulyErnest Bloch music competition finals Royal College of Music
2010
2010, JulyErnest Bloch music competition finals Royal College of Music
2009
2009, November Bloch Prizewinners Concert Purcell Room
2009, JulyErnest Bloch music competition finals Royal College of Music
2009, JulyClick here to read about the Remembering Ernest Bloch week
2009, JulyIEBS Concert Wigmore Hall Jack Liebeck violin, Bengt Forsberg piano
2009, April IEBS Chamber Concert Wigmore Hall Goldner Quartet, Piers Lane piano
2009, March Bloch’s only Opera Macbeth Bloomsbury Theatre UCL
2009, February 2009 Bloch’s Sacred Service Roehampton University Music Society
2008
2008, JulyThe launch of the International Ernest Bloch Society. Read more
2008, November Julian Jacobson’s review of Malcolm Troup’s piano recital at St James’ Piccadilly
2007
2007, July Ernest Bloch International Conference at Cambridge University including report by Malcolm Miller
2007, July Complete programme notes for the Chamber Recital in the Fitzwilliam College Chapel 2007 at the 2007 Bloch conference.
2007, July Dalia Atlas conducts the RPO in a London revival of Bloch’s C Sharp Minor Symphony. Review by Malcolm Miller