SALON CLASSIQUE presents masterworks and hidden gems of chamber music in
intimate settings, performed by outstanding local musicians and groups of the San Francisco Bay
Area. The mission of Salon Classique is to make classical music more accessible and to be attractive to people who might be new to the genre. The series features lively introductions by founding director Karsten
Windt. Often the musicians demonstrate examples of the program prior to their performance.
By choosing private homes
and other small and special venues rather than a formal concert hall, we fulfill the wish of many listeners to enjoy music in a more relaxing environment and to discuss musical contents over a glass of wine. Less experienced guests can feel gently guided towards classical music, while musical connoisseurs enjoy extending their knowledge in a very entertaining way.
San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music:
Artist Highlight - Salon Classique
March 6, 2014
(L-R) Dan Flanagan, Liz Prior, Jonah Kim, Photo by Kris Larsson
Sunday March 29, 12 - 1:30pm presented in collaboration with the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.
Salon Classique presents chamber music masterworks
and hidden gems in intimate settings. In this highlight, we hear from
founder Karsten Windt about the beginnings of Salon Classique and what
you can expect from the ensemble in this coming year.
1. Describe your music in ten words or fewer
Salon Classique offers intimate opportunities to absorb chamber music excellence.
2. Tell us how Salon Classique came about and what holds it together
Starting in 2006, Maestro Kent Nagano and pianist
Mari Kodama invited me to be a presenter, narrator and violinist at
Forest Hill Musical Days. (This small neighborhood festival brings
together experienced chamber players from all over the world to perform a
well-rehearsed repertoire in a private setting.) I found it to be a
little piece of heaven, and it later provided the inspiration for Salon
Classique.
As I found myself in San Francisco more frequently
and became friends with other chamber musicians in the Bay Area, I
realized how much I enjoyed bringing quality music to this community. I
also wanted to do so throughout the year. Hence, Salon Classique was
born. With that, I left behind the safety of a twenty-year-long first
violin job with the Deutsche Symphony Berlin and my beloved chamber
music group, the Akanthus Ensemble Berlin, to start a new life in
California.
To accommodate last-minute scheduling dates and
adequate rehearsals, a variety of musicians perform with Salon
Classique. Some are members of the SF Symphony, the Opera or teach at
the Conservatory, while others are independent musicians who play with
several chamber groups and regional orchestras. For instance, the
concert at the Legion of Honor will feature Dan Flanagan, concertmaster
of Sacramento and Modesto Symphonies, and Jonah Kim from the SF Ballet
Orchestra, who are both joining us for the first time. Liz Prior,
principal violist of Marin Symphony, on the other hand, will play this
concert as she did the very first one of the series. Since the programs
and line-ups are always rotating, the format seems to inspire both the
musicians and the audience.
The soul of Salon Classique, though, is our good
chemistry, as we share the need for finding truth and common musical
understanding in our performances. And the love for presenting music to
an intimate audience outside the traditional concert hall.
3. What is in the works for Salon Classique in 2014?
It is my hope that Salon Classique will continue to
grow and become more organized this year. While past concerts were
planned randomly as the venues became available, we now aim to
streamline and plan entire seasons ahead of time. We will continue to
perform music in private homes throughout the Bay Area, but we are also
reaching out to public or commercial spaces that offer the same
intimacy. Performing in the beautiful Pearson Theatre at Meyer Sound in
Berkeley was a first step in that direction.
Another area I hope to see growth is in fundraising
and promotions. Coming from Germany, where public money is still
available to maintain a vivid classical music scene, it was necessary to
learn how concerts are financed in the US. And up until now, we have
only needed to rely on word of mouth for attendance. Therefore,
fundraising activities, a new website and administrative help are all on
the short list, until we can present the next season's program.
As for the music itself, I hope to expand our
repertoire. Having played a lot of Argentinian Tango in Berlin, I aim to
include some in our classical programs. And with the digital world
allowing greater access to more music, I am excited to search for
undiscovered masterpieces, worthy of being presented to our local
audience.
4. Any ideas on how to bring musical
performance to the people? or ideas on how to engage new audiences
through musical performance?
I often found myself sitting on stage of the Berlin
Philharmonic Hall playing a concert and wondering how much of our
musical language was really understood by the audience. Or were people
there because it was expected they attend or did they just want an
excuse to dress up? I began to feel the need to talk to my audience, to
share what I love about a piece of music and explain what makes it
special. That became an important part of my work with the Akanthus
Ensemble Berlin, it brought me to San Francisco, and it became the core
idea of Salon Classique.
We present our music along with stories about the
composers and the pieces we chose, about our findings during the
rehearsals, including amusing anecdotes, and we usually play a few
examples before running the whole piece. This gives attendees a chance
to learn, to laugh, to listen more carefully and enjoy the music more
intensely, without feeling they must be experts.
Like a guide for an art exhibition, we try to
approach the audience at their level, rather than expecting them to come
to us prepared and with a printed program already digested. The
intimacy of our venues helps us to connect and get to know each other.
The audience can sip on a glass of wine and relax during a performance.
We feel chamber music performances should be just that…not only concerts
but also social experiences.