Love songs from ‘gang of Wolfgangs’ slated Wednesday

Monday, July 31, 2017

Pianist Claude Cymerman will be joined by his friend and colleague, cellist Eric Edberg, for an evening of love songs by Schubert and Korngold as the Greencastle Summer Music Festival continues on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. with a program the performers call “Love Songs by a Gang of Wolfgangs.”

The free concert in Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church is sponsored by individual and business contributors, including the Inn at DePauw, as well as an endowment at the Putnam County Community Foundation.

The festival’s motto is “bringing the community together with friends making music for friends.”

Edberg, professor of music at DePauw, says he’s particularly excited about this week’s program.

“Claude and I have been playing together since 1988, and we particularly enjoy arranging great art songs for cello and piano. This summer we’re playing some of the greatest love songs by Franz Schubert, as well as the extraordinary and lushly romantic music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, who is best known for his great film scores from the golden age of Hollywood. It is without question the most gorgeous music I’ve ever played.”

But why “a gang of Wolfgangs?” Edberg explains they came up with that title half in jest.

“We’re starting with a short Mozart piece -- that’s Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. And then there’s Erich Wolfgang Korngold.” But what about Franz Schubert? There’s no “Wolfgang” in his name.

“True,” Edberg admits, “but he wrote many songs using texts by the great German author Johann Wolfgang von Göethe. So all are Schubert songs we’re playing were inspired by Göethe texts.”

Cymerman suggested having the famed chef Wolfgang Puck cater food for the intermission, but the festival’s board said that wasn’t in the budget. “We’ll have some sort of treats, though,” Edberg promised.

Recognized as a Greencastle and DePauw treasure for more than three decades, Cymerman, professor emeritus of music at DePauw, graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris with highest honors. After winning national and international competitions, including the grand prize at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud contest, he studied at Indiana University.

The late French President Georges Pompidou recognized Cymerman as an “Outstanding Pianist.” He has appeared as a soloist with the Radio France Orchestra, Orchestre des Pays de la Loire, Orchestre National d’Ile de France, the Luxembourg and San Francisco Chamber Orchestras, as well as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and is a frequent guest on French National Radio and the BBC.

Classical and improvising cellist Edberg has been heralded by the Washington Post for an “excellent solo performance,” and for “playing both faultless and effortless, a pleasure to observe and enjoy” by the Appleton Post-Crescent.

A concert organizer, workshop leader, and drum circle facilitator committed to enlivening and connecting people through music, he is the founder and artistic director of the Greencastle Summer Music Festival, which has “brought the community together with friends making music for friends” since 2005.

He has performed internationally as a soloist and chamber musician.

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