Dr. Bert Greenspan, Elise Auerbach to Perform Oct. 19

CAPE MAY — On Oct. 19, Sat. evening, at 7 p.m., Access to Art will again present Dr. Bert Greenspan, and Elise Auerbach, pianist in a concert at the Cape Island Baptist Church on Gurney and Columbia Street in Cape May. Dr. Greenspan, who gave us several lectures and musical demonstrations on the Italian and English Renaissance at the Southern Mansion, will give us some running commentary on the nature of Romanticism, and its origins. Greenspan received his BM in music from Juilliard, and his MM and doctorate in performance from Indiana University. The concert will stress Romanticism, 19th century and earlier music, that expresses human emotion and the human spirit. He will be accompanied by Elise Auerbach, pianist, who studied at Temple University and at Cincinnati Conservatory of the Arts where
she received her MM in music.
“Women, he says, “are often the most repressed people in the world. However, women musicians, including Clara Schuman, who toured as a virtuoso pianist, and who also composed various concertos, did express themselves in music. As did Amy Beach. And Elise and I will give them a hearing at this concert.”
Dr. Greenspan taught for generations at Rowan University and is interested in putting his concerts into historical and cultural perspectives. The evening is perfect for people who enjoy the music, but might not know the nuances of the period in which it was produced.
“When I speak about Romanticism, I am speaking about expressing human emotion, but also using the word, Roman, which means telling a story, and looking to the past. What is passed on to us is the story of the past. In the 19th century there was an intense interest in the middle ages. Dante was very important: Virgil and Dante in hell. Saint Saens lived in the l9th century and into the l920’s. He and other composers used the Dies Irae, music for mourning in the Catholic church. Romanticism… the feeling of love, not just love for one person for another, but religious love, a revival of the Renaissance love of nature, took place,” said Dr. Bert Greenspan, violinist.
Greenspan who taught for generations at Rowan University and who currently performs in OperaNaples in Naples, Florida, as well as in the
Southwest Symphony in Fort Myers and with chamber groups is always a teacher. And he puts his music into context.
He wants to draw attention to women, who were often abused, and not allowed to express their emotions. In the arts, though, in music, they managed, occasionally, to express themselves. He will play music from Clara Schumann, who was a virtuoso pianist, and also a composer. And her husband, Robert Schumann.
Clara’s father did not want them to marry, because he wanted his daughter to marry a lawyer, or a doctor, not a musician whom he did not think could provide for her. “When we are talking about love for another person, or love for nature, a lot of it comes from women. Women were repressed throughout history. When we talk about abuse, the most abused people were women, and also often people most gifted in expressing themselves in writing, poetry, art or music.” he said.
“We will also play works by Amy Beach. She played her own piano concerto for the Boston Symphony. We will give a the music a cultural and historical aspect. People need to express themselves in speech and in song. And they express themselves in dance and poetry. This is what a human being is. When we listen to instrumental music with no words, songs for instruments, I will explain the human feelings accompanying the music,” Greenspan said.
“Elise and I believe strongly that most of what we perform is like a short story or a play. Clara Schumann
was a wonderful composer. Women were often stymied during various periods in history, as in Heinrich Ibson’s The Doll’s House, or Hedda Gabler by Ibsen .There, the woman had everything her husband thought that she could want: a beautiful home, beautiful clothes, furniture, and her husband does not understand that she would want to be anything but a hostess.” Greenspan said. This play explained some of the repression of women in that they were allowed functions and positions in society, and they should not hope for any personal freedom of expression.
Both literature and music explain attitudes, a century, the times, a story. Come, enjoy the concert, and the world views expressed. Tickets are $20. Adults, $15. Seniors, $10. Students.
Tickets will be available at the door from an hour before the concert. Call (609) 465-3963 to reserve seats. Checks may be sent to Access to Art, Inc., 417 E. Pacific Ave., Cape May Court House, N.J. 08210.
This concert is one of two presented by Access to Art, Inc. in Oct. On Oct. 26, Access will present a dinner concert with internationally known violinist, former Assoc. concertmaster for the Philadelphia Orchestra, Michael Ludwig at Union Park Hotel at 5 p.m. with a three course dinner and an intimate evening of Bach. This is a benefit for Access to Art, Inc., supporting its programming for 2013.