This preview has been provided by the Carteret Arts Forum.
The Lopez Tabor Duo, a highly accomplished violin and piano duo, returns to Carteret County to dazzle audiences once again with works ranging from the venerated traditions of Bach and Beethoven, to a Frenchman’s exciting piece in the Spanish style, to rhythmic Spanish and sparkling Latin American compositions. The Lopez Tabor Duo has received high praise from music critics who describe their performances as “musical bliss” and “flawless display of violin virtuoso” technique. Be sure not to miss this rare opportunity to enjoy a world-class performance.
The Lopez Tabor Duo will perform on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 4 PM at the History Museum of Carteret County (The History Place), 1008 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC. Tickets are $35.00 and may be purchased online at www.carteretartsforum.com or at the door. You may e-mail sales@carteretartsforum.com for more information.
The mission of Carteret Arts Forum (CAF) is to bring enriching cultural experiences to Carteret County and surrounding areas. CAF was founded in 1999 as a volunteer, non-profit organization for the benefit of Carteret County and surrounding areas. It strives to promote and educate through the cultural arts. CAF makes a special effort to include area students and may support monetarily selected local arts endeavors and events. Youth and college students with a valid college ID may purchase tickets for only $5.00.
Lopez Tabor Duo
The members of the Lopez Tabor Duo, Alfonso Lopez, violinist, and Michelle Tabor, pianist, have performed together in the United States and Venezuela since 2004. Alfonso Lopez, a violinist, conductor, composer, and teacher is considered one of Venezuela’s most versatile and prominent musicians of his generation. He is the concertmaster of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra (OSV), the country’s oldest and most respected orchestra, nominated to receive a Latin Grammy award for Best Instrumental CD. His principal teachers were Emil Friedman, Julia Bushkova, Paul Kantor, Michael Daugherty, and Gustav Meier. As concertmaster, he has performed with various orchestras in international festivals; and he is a founding member and first violinist of the Friedman String Quartet. Pianist Michelle Tabor is the daughter of a Venezuelan mother and an American father and lives in Tallahassee, Florida. Both musicians obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in music in the States. Mr. Lopez attended the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan before obtaining his B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) and an M.A. (Highest Honors) in music from the University of Michigan, plus advanced musical training in Austria and England. Dr. Michelle Tabor holds a B.F.A., from Tulane University; an M.A. from the University of Denver; and a Ph.D. from Florida State University. She pursued research in Latin American music of the twentieth century and has published numerous articles about Latin American composers.
The program will consist of: two Sonatas, the first by Johann Sebastian Bach, the second by Ludwig van Beethoven; excerpts from Eduard Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole and Isaac Albeniz’s Sevilla; followed by four Latin American pieces arranged by Alfonso Lopez Chollett of Boleros and Joropos by Consuelo Velazquez, Zequinha de Abreu, Miguel Matamoros, and Carlos Bonet.
CAF leadership learned about the Lopez Tabor Duo when CAF board member, Dr. Robert Dickson, hosted a recital for family and friends at his home in Emerald Isle. Dr. Dickson had met Mr. Lopez at his neighbors’ the previous summer while the violinist, his wife, and two young daughters vacationed with family. CAF invited the Duo for their first appearance in September 2014. CAF support board member, Mrs. Moni Bottlinger, and her husband, Mr. William Bottlinger, of Pine Knowles Shores, were instrumental in sponsoring the Lopez Tabor Duo this season.
We had the pleasure of asking Mr. Lopez and Dr. Tabor a few questions.
Q: Who are your favorite composers?
A: Alfonso Lopez: Brahms, Beethoven and Bach (The 3 B’s) plus Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Haydn and Mozart.
A: Michelle Tabor: Each style of music, such as the Baroque, or Classical, or Romantic, or the Twentieth Century, has its unique appeal. I like variety and enjoy listening to all of them. Each composer has a sound that distinguishes that person’s work, and yet, within a composer’s total output, there is much variety. We will perform works by Beethoven and Bach that are quite different and contrasting. Variety engages my interest.
Q: What have you learned from the European masters?
A: Alfonso Lopez: They have a tradition that cannot be bypassed. You always have to look at how they are interpreted and performed. I regularly look at performances of the Berlin Philharmonic by checking their digital channel on YouTube.
A: Michelle Tabor: The European masters represent the origins and development for several centuries of our great traditions of Western classical music. Musicians that perform western classical music could say that most of what they learned can be found in these wonderful traditions.
Q: What draws you to the music of Argentina and Latin America?
A: Alfonso Lopez: I love the rhythms, flavor and tunes found from the Rio Grande all the way down to Patagonia.
A: Michelle Tabor: In the late 19th and early 20th century composers in Spain developed some beautiful musical traditions that were uniquely Spanish, yet still part of the mainstream. In the 20th century, composers in Latin America developed their own unique musical languages that incorporated the extremely varied Latin American folk traditions into the European mainstream in fascinating ways.
Q: What is unique about performing, composing, and conducting?
A: Alfonso Lopez: I love experiencing music from different perspectives. I am lucky to be able to breathe fresh air every time I go from the podium to my desk to my concertmaster chair and so on.
A: Michelle Tabor: I love music, so I derive great pleasure and happiness from practicing and playing the piano. I love challenges and performing is extremely challenging. Although I am not an athlete, I can relate to them because they face similar challenges whether playing a championship tennis match, or a football game, or an Olympic event.
