On Sunday, April 21, 2019, we shared another incredible salon experience aimed at connecting artists, audience, and hearts. The theme was “Art Partnerships that Connect and Influence Us: Music, Dance, and Storytelling.”
The arts have the power to engage the senses, and an eclectic program promised to capture the magic. For the first time, the Salon’s program included a visual artist in addition to musicians, vocalists, and dancers. It was a return to the roots of the Salon idea where exploration of new concepts inspired the gatherings.
The Shostakovich’s Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano gave a strong start to the night, performed by Ethan Yang (violin) Jonathan Okseniuk (violin) Kevin Chen (piano). The second part of their performance was, however, impressive and exuberant when the violin duo performed Handel-Halverson’s Passacaglia. It was a flawless and spellbinding performance by the young virtuosos warranting a lengthy standing ovation! It was hard to believe that they were not yet 15 years old. Their violins seemed to be singing to each other without words. Their talent and inspiration reminded us why we love music. The video below will give a small glimpse of their beautiful performance.
Next, Melanie Ohm and Ann Nagell introduced the audience a beautiful and inspiring presentation of Art Song music. For most of the audience, this was their first exposure to the genre, which expresses a poem or literature in musical form. The poet inspires the composer and the composition is performed by the singer and a pianist working in collaboration. They performed beautiful works by well-known Brazilian, French, and American composers.
After the Intermission, Emily Matias, a fine-art photographer, who through a slide show and quick-change artistry presented a re-creation of her ancestors’ life in the secluded mountains of Romania. To capture the hues of that distant reality, she chose to live in the same rustic conditions that her grand parents once lived and experience first-hand the spirit of her homeland. Emily’s works of beautiful and insightful photography stayed true to our theme in making connections with culture and family. 
The last 20 minutes was, albeit too brief, a gorgeous celebration of the Argentine tango. Rusty Cline and Joanne Canalli are dancers whose accomplishments include competing in the 2012 World Tango Competition, the highest level of the dance form. Their rhythm and movement were truly infectious. Their tight and sharp footwork, the elegance of their presence, and the onstage glamour were just magnificent.
The total program provided beautiful stories being told, sung, and danced. The variety of impressive performers, diverse audience, and amazing food and drink, all contributed to a wondrous evening of connection in the company of music and loving friends.
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The next Salon will be Sunday, November 17. We hope you will join us!
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