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DePue, Strauss to perform ‘the impossible duet’
Violinist Zachary DePue, a virtuoso with an active international career, will be joined in Wednesday’s 7:30 p.m. Greencastle Summer Music Festival program at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church by violist Michael Strauss showcasing the virtuosity of each artist, including a piece many young string players call “the impossible duet.”
There is no admission charge for this fifth of the festival’s 12 summer programs, which are supported by free-will donations at the performances and annual fund donations by a growing number of supporters.
DePue’s performance this week has been made possible by a donation from David and Sue Murray, and Strauss’ by Gary and Susan Lemon. The Greencastle Summer Music Festival also receives support from an endowment at the Putnam County Community Foundation, a grant from the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Inn at DePauw as a host for the festival’s out-of-town guests and Gobin, which has made its facilities available since 2005.
“I love gymnastics and I love music,” said Eric Edberg, the festival’s founding artistic director, “and with players like Zach and Mike, we experience a thrilling combination of instrumental gymnastics along with imaginative, creative music making. It’s going to be an absolutely amazing concert.”
DePue and Strauss will start the program with the so-called “impossible duet,” a set of increasingly dazzling variations by the 19th-century composer Johan Halvorsen, written on a deceptive tune by Handel as well as a duo by Mozart. Each will then play a solo piece by the 19th-century virtuoso Henri Vieuxtemps. In honor of the recent Fourth of July holiday, DePue will play that composer’s “Souvenirs d’Amerique,” an amusing 19th-century tribute to the U.S.
“I’m really excited both to present Zach and Mike, two of the finest musicians I know, as well as to make music with them,” said Edberg, who has been organizing the festival since 2005 and will join in for the final work on the program.
“One thing I love about this program is that there are so many ‘I didn’t think human beings could do that’ pieces in it,” Edberg added. “Mike and Zach play with a level of skill that is inspiring in and of itself. I’m honored they invited me to conclude the program with the ‘Serenade for String Trio,’ a delightfully engaging work by Dohnanyi.”
The festival continues each Wednesday through the Aug. 17 final performance with Tad Robinson and his band. The full schedule is at www.greencastlemusic.org.