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Peter Minkler |
Interview with Peter Minkler
February 2013
by Susan Pearl
This Saturday,
February 9, 2013 - 8:00pm
Prince George’s
Community College, Largo, MD
Charles Ellis,
conductor – Peter Minkler, viola
Urquiaga New Work TBA
Bruch Romance for Viola and
Orchestra in F Maj. Op. 85
Enesco Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1
in A Major, Op.11
Berlioz Harold in Italy, Op.16
Quarter Notes: Thank you so much, Mr. Minkler, for taking
the time to talk to us today. We are
very much looking forward to performing not one, but two wonderful pieces
written specifically for viola. Could we
start with a little about your training and your current career?
Peter Minkler: I began my studies at the Cleveland Institute
of Music with Robert Vernon, and continued my
studies at the Eastman School of Music with Francis
Tursi. I have been a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 1984.
QN: We understand that you are active with the
BSO Summer Academy and the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra. So we’re especially pleased that you will be
with us this February for our annual side-by-side concert, at which talented high
school musicians join our Philharmonic in one of the concert selections.
PM: Yes, I maintain a
private studio for teaching viola students, and also enjoy coaching adult
players at the BSO Summer Academy. The
Academy is a wonderful opportunity for adults who have enjoyed playing in an
orchestra but have gone into other professions.
We have a week-long summer session which these amateur musicians attend, and perform a concert with the BSO.
QN: And tell us about
your connection with our Prince George’s Philharmonic. This is the first time that we’ve had you as
a soloist.
PM: I’ve known Maestro
Ellis for over 20 years, but have never worked
with him and his orchestra, so I am delighted that he invited me to play with
the Philharmonic. And I am particularly
happy that he is a “viola-friendly” music director! It is not often that any orchestra schedules
two viola soloists within just a few years.
QN: That’s right, we had another viola soloist
exactly two years ago, and we are delighted to have you for this concert, and
especially for Berlioz’ Harold in Italy! What a fabulous piece of music! Is it a favorite of yours?
PM: I have played this
work before as a member of the orchestra, but
this will be the first time I’ll have the opportunity to perform the solo viola
part in concert. It is indeed an
outstanding piece, and one of the first major works that was written
specifically for the viola voice. In a
sense, the piece is a narration of Berlioz’ own travels in Italy in the 1830s after
he won the Prix de Rome, and the viola serves as the chronicler of this musical
story. It will be exciting to play it!
I’m happy also to be playing another smaller piece, the Romance by Bruch, which is a favorite of
mine. It was originally written for
viola and orchestra - another fairly rare example of this combination. Although I’ve presented it before in concert,
the accompaniment was always with piano transcription, so I’m very happy to be
playing it now with full orchestra as it was originally written.
And what a wonderful program Maestro Ellis has put together! Even the Enesco Rhapsody, which you will be playing with the side-by-side students,
has a viola solo, which I hope the audience will be primed to notice.
QN: This concert will indeed
be a night of Viola Celebration! Thank
you so much; we are really looking forward to performing with you on February 9th!
published with permission
Prince George's Philharmonic
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