Sunday, December 16, 2007

Producers Helen and Beecher Wood and
recording engineer Roger Barnes,
invite you to a CD Release Recital and Reception
of their newest recording on Sunday, December 16 at 3:00 p.m.
Anderson Auditorium, Hurley School of Music, at Centenary College.

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PROGRAM of CELLO WORKS by JACQUES OFFENBACH (1819-1880)

Opus 52, #2 in D Major for Cello Duo
Allegro maestoso
Andante
Scherzo

Reminiscenes a "Robert le Diable" de Giacomo Meyerbeer Sextet
Paul Christopher, Cello I, III, V
Ruth Drummond, Cello II, IV, VI

We hope to see you there!

Rossini's Thanksgiving Recipe

Tournedos a la Rossini

At the time it was said that the name of the dish was due to the fact that the composer's butler was obliged to "tourner le dos" (turn his back) on the diners so as to hide the secret of the final touches of this recipe created by the famous chef Marie-Antoine Careme, with Rossini's complicity and supervision.

Ingredients (for four people):

Four 150 g tournedos of filet steak each 3 cm thick

Four slices of bread

150 g of butter

A glass of Madeira

A spoonful of flour

A glass of stock

1 decilitre of demi-glace sauce

Four round shapes of foie gras, floured & sauteed in butter

Four slices of Norcia truffle cut quite thick, salt & pepper.

Tie the tournedos so that they keep their shape in cooking. Cut the slices of bread to the same size as the tournedos, and brown them lightly in a little butter in a pan. Place the tournedos on the butter and cook over a high flame on both sides for about three minutes.

Then add salt and pepper, remove from the pan and place on a warm serving dish, or keep them warm in a bain-marie. Blend the last piece of butter with the flour and put the mixture into the sauce; then dilute it with the boiling stock, pour in the Madeira and mix it with the cooking sauce. Add the demi-glace and cook over a low flame, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens.

Place the tournedos on the bread and decorate with round slices of foie gras (which should be slightly smaller than the tournedos and which have been braised in the same pan on a very hot flame for 15 seconds on each side). Cut 12 discs of truffle and place 3 on each tournedos.

Pour over the sauce, add the rest of the chopped truffles and serve immediately.

This recipe and others may be found at Gioachino-Rossini.com

Monday, December 3, 2007

NSU Faculty and Student Recital
Presents a Tribute to Gioachino Rossini

PROGRAM

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Fantasie on Motives from the Opera, "The Barber of Seville" by G. Rossini, Op. 71 ..... J. Offenbach

Paul Christopher, cello
Elena Bogaczova, piano

Variations on One String on a Theme by G. Rossini ..... N. Paganini (1782-1840)

Josue Ramirez, bass
Brett Andrews, piano

Variations on a Theme by G. Rossini ..... B. Martinu

Paul Christopher, cello
Peter Kysela, piano

La Priere de Moise ..... J. Offenbach (1819-1880)

Dr. Andrej Kurti, violin I
Raul Mungia, violin II
Paul Christopher, cello
Peter Kysela, piano

Sonata No. 6 in D Major ..... G. Rossini (1792-1868)
Allegro spiritoso
Andante assai
Tempesta: Allegro

Dr. Andrej Kurti, violin I
Raul Mungia, violin II
Paul Christopher, cello
Josue Ramirez, bass


Magale Recital Hall @ 7:30 pm

Monday, November 26, 2007

Faculty Recital

Dr. Christine Allen, piano

assisted by Dr. Andrej Kurti, violin

and Paul Christopher, cello

Magale Recital Hall @ 7:30 p.m.

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PROGRAM

Piano Trio in c minor, opus 1, no. 3 ......... Beethoven (1710-1827)
Allergro con brio
Andante cantabile con Variazioni
Menuetto: Quasi Allergro
Finale: Prestissimo

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Guest Artist Recital
Paul Christopher, cello
Dr. LaWanda Blakeney, piano
University Center Theater @ 10:30 am
Louisiana State University at Shreveport

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PROGRAM

Souvenir du Val (Romance), opus 29, number 1
Serenade, opus 29, number 2 ............. J. Offenbach (1819-1880)


Selections from Cello Suite #3 in C major ... J.S. Bach (1685-1750)


The Swan
Allegro appassionato, opus 43 ......... C. Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Monday, October 29, 2007

Guest Artist Recital
Paul Christopher, cellist
Dr. Paul Becker, pianist
Harris Recital Hall @ 7:30 p.m.
University of Arkansas
Monticello, Arkansas

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PROGRAM

Souvenir du Val, opus 29, number 1 ....... J. Offenbach (1819-1880)
Serenade, opus 29, number 2

Solo Cello Suite #3 in C Major ................ J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Prelude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Bouree I and II
Gigue

Sonata (1916) ..................................... F. Delius (1862-1934)

Friday, October 26, 2007

Guest Artist Recital
Paul Christopher, cellist
Dr. Timothy Smith, pianist
Witherspoon Auditorium @ 7:30 p.m.
Arkansas Technical University
Russellville, Arkansas

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PROGRAM

Souvenir du Val, opus 29, number 1 ....... J. Offenbach (1819-1880)
Serenade, opus 29, number 2


Solo Cello Suite number 3 in C Major .......... J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Prelude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Bouree I and II
Gigue


Sonata (1916) .................................... F. Delius (1862-1934)

Friday, October 19, 2007

Louisiana Music Teachers Association Convention
Pottle Auditorium @ 3:00 pm
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, Louisiana

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Operatic Paraphrases for Cello and Double Bass

Fantasie on Motives from G. Rossini's opera, "The Barber of Seville"
opus 71 for cello and piano (1852) ... J. Offenbach (1819-1880)
Paul Christopher, cello
Elena Bogaczova, piano


Duo Concertant on Themes from Bellini's opera, "I Puritani"
for cello, double bass and piano (1851) ... G. Bottesini (1821-1889)
Josue Ramirez, bass
Paul Christopher, cello
Elena Bogaczova, piano

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Louisiana Composers Consortium Concert
Treen Auditorium @ 7:00 p.m.
Louisiana School for Math, Sciences and the Arts
Natchitoches, Louisiana

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PROGRAM

"Grace" Variations for cello duet .... Al Benner
Daniel Jang and Paul Christopher, cellists

Reocurrence for solo cello ... Al Benner
Paul Christopher, cellist

Charisma for clarinet and violoncello ... Iannis Xenakis
Dr. Malena McLaren, clarinetist
Paul Christopher, cellist

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

NSU Faculty Showcase Recital
Magale Recital Hall
3:30 pm

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PROGRAM

Charisma for Clarinet and Violoncello ..... Iannis Xenakis
Dr. Malena McLaren, clarinet
Paul Christopher, cello

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Monday, September 17, 2007

Guest Artist Cello Recital


Dr. David Russell of Wellesley College, Massachusetts
Magale Recital Hall @ 7:30 pm

NEW WORKS FOR SOLO CELLO

Curve with Plateaux (1982)..... Jonathan Harvey (b.1939)

Projection 1 (1950) ..... Morton Feldman (1926-1987)

winterfall (1975) ..... Lee Hyla (b.1952)

“les mots sont alleés…” (1978) ..... Luciano Berio (1925-2003)

Unlocked (1999) ..... Judith Weir (b.1954)
1. Make Me a Garment
2. No Justice
3. The Wind Blow East
4. The Keys to the Prison
5. Trouble, Trouble

INTERMISSION

reaching after (2002) ..... Roger Zahab (b. 1956)

Figment (1994) ..... Elliott Carter (b.1908)

Figment No. 2: Remembering Mr. Ives (2003) ..... Elliott Carter

Sept Papillons (2001) ..... Kaija Saariaho (b.1952)

Julie-O ..... Mark Summer

Friday, August 17, 2007

My Friends at DMMO

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Septet in E flat Major, Opus 65
for Piano, Trumpet and Strings
by Camille Saint Saens

I. Preambule: Allegro moderato
II. Menuet: Tempo di minuetto moderato
III. Intermede: Andante
IV. Gavotte et Finale: Allegro non troppo

The musicians of the Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra

Sunday, July 1, 2007

DMMO Chamber Music Recital

Lekburg Recial Hall @ 7:30 pm

Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa

Offenbach Duo in D Major, Opus 49, No. 6

Allegro maestoso

Andantino

Rondo: Allegro

Paul Christopher and Colin Ferguson, cellists

Friday, June 22, 2007

Des Moines Metro Opera

35th Anniversary Season

June 22-July 15, 2007

Indianola, Iowa

Bizet's Carmen

Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream

Verdi's Otello

When one door closes another opens. Although the trip to Paris was canceled, I am currently serving as principal cellist playing three wonderful operas with DMMO!

Sunday, May 27, 2007

"Gee, All I Ever Wanted to Do Was Play My Instrument..."
Nathan Kahn, Negotiator, American Federation of Musicians

May 1, 2007

On the Existence of the Public's Etymological Fancy
by Nadine Charity

Lexicographers dig into words
as archeologists into so much rubble
Exuberant glee fills each spadeful
of fresh-turned prefix and suffix
added to the Greek root

Modern terms offer traceable origins
perhaps even recorded
in all their tonal glory
The word smith's anvil and tongs
holds and shapes the word
as an artisan displays his craft

These are pulse raising events
"Doc, my heart
I think it skipped a beat."

But for the many, burning our bridges
keeping trim, eating salad
temperate and firm
words excite little

We run around the clock
around the neighbor's block
around the city, state
continent
anywhere our feet come down

play the oboe
bassoon, cello
shake hands with the concert master
pack our bags
and fly to Paris.

This poem is significant because I was invited to perform with the Back Porch Band at the Festival d'Ile de France in Paris on September 7-10, 2007 :)

April 27, 2007

In Remembrance of Mstislav Rostropovich

Here's a link to an exclusive
"Conversation with Mstislav Rostropovich"
posted at the Internet Cello Society

April 10, 2007

Dr. Isidor Saslav authored an original article, "The Day of the 'Cello" describing two cello recitals that took place at different universities on March 25, 2007. The article portrays an insightful understanding of performance traditions that influence today's classical recitals.

April 19, 2007

Low Strings Recital

The Cello and Bass Studio of Paul Christopher

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Magale Recital Hall

PROGRAM

Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 6...............J.S. Bach

Suite in G Major, Op. 16.......................D. Popper

Brett Andrews & P. Christopher, celli

Lonely Ways.......................................Doc Murray

Josue Ramirez & Mitch Moehring, bassi

Duo in a minor, Op. 53, no. 2...............J. Offenbach

Victoria Smith & P. Christopher, celli

Variations..................................C.N. Rabinowitz

V. Smith, B. Andrews, Christina Lake, Amber Carter,
Leah Smith and P. Christopher

Song of the Birds...................................P. Casals

April 11, 2007

Northwestern State University 20th Annual Research Day

Offenbach's Opera Paraphrases

Paul Christopher, Cello
Assisted by Peter Kysela, piano

Student Union Ballroom

April 9, 2007

Klang String Quartet

Magale Recital Hall

Edward Charity and Tristan Roberts, violins

Paul Adams, viola

Brett Andrews, cello

String Quartet in C Major, K. 157............................W.A. Mozart

(1756-1971)

String Quartet, No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11....................Tchaikovsky

(1840-1893)

March 26, 2007

Student Recital

Daniel Jang, Cello
Assisted by Paul Christopher, cello

Cello Duo in C Major, Opus 53, No. 3................. J. Offenbach

Treen Auditorium
Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts

March 25, 2007

Offenbach & Friends

Shreveport Symphony Cello Section

A Program of Operatic Paraphrases by Jacques Offenbach

Melodies de "Anna Bolena" de Donizetti for solo cello

Andante

Moderato

Larghetto: Moderato

Andante

Moderato

Allergro: Allegro

Cantabile: Moderato

Cantabile

Larghetto

Allegretto

Paul Christopher, cello

Fantasie on Motives from the Opera "The Marriage of Figaro"

by Wofgang Amadeus Mozart, Opus 72

Kristina Vaska-Hass, piano

Paul Christopher, cello

Reminiscenes a "Robert le Diable" de Giacomo Meyerbeer

Paul Christopher, cello I

Ruth Drummond, cello II

Kristina Vaska-Haas, cello III

David Jankowski, cello IV

Claudia Sullivan, cello V

David Pennywell, cello VI

Anderson Auditorium

Hurley School of Music

Centenary College

Shreveport, Louisiana

March 19, 2007

Paul Christopher, Cello

PROGRAM

Suite No. 3.....................................J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Deep River......................Traditional (Arranged by D. Fetter)

Columbia Community College

Columbia, Tennessee

March 12, 2007

Whitney Allen, Cello

Assisted by Dr. Christine Allen, piano

Paul Christopher, cello

PROGRAM

Adagio....................A. Franchomme (1808-1884)

W. Allen and P. Christopher

Third Suite for Cello..........B. Britten (1913-1976)

W. Allen

Chant................................J. Tavener (1944- )

P. Christopher

Suite in C Major ..........G.C. Menotti (1911-2007)

P. Christopher, W. Allen and C. Allen

January 16, 2007

Bert Witzel, Principal Bass, Louisville Symphony

Assisted by Elena Bogaczova, piano

Paul Christopher, cello

Program

Sonata No. 6 in F Major...............A. Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Transcribed by Paul Ellison

Continuum...............................Solbong Kim (1981- )

Duetto in D Major.....................G. Rossini (1678-1741)

Concerto in f# minor...........S. Koussevitsky (1874-1951)

January 12, 2007

The Violin Sonatas of Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

Sonata no. 1 in F Major, Op. 8 (1865)

Mark Miller, violin

Dr. Steven Harlos, piano

Sonata no. 2 in G Major, Op. 13 (1867)

Dr. Isidor Saslav, violin

Ann Saslav, piano

Sonata no.3 in c minor, Op. 45 (1887)

Dr. Andrej Kurti, violin

Dr. Nikita Fitenko, piano