Ravinia 2021 - Issue 4

In addition to presenting concerts designed to closely connect to listeners—both physically from their home stage at Guarneri Hall and through carefully curated programming—NEXUS Chamber Music aims to put its repertoire in contexts that are familiar to 21st-century music enthusiasts, such as creatively lit and directed music videos (right, from Alexander Hersh’s YouTube video with Victor Asunción, performing the third movement of Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano), sometimes with an added narrative. believed in us and wrote Upon Wings of Words . We are also recording it for Nimbus in London, right after the Ravinia concert.” Upon Wings of Words is in addition the subject of a documentary film currently in production at Guarneri Hall NFP, which will explore the cre- ation of a commission and its bloom into fruition. Guarneri Hall Artistic Director Stefan Hersh sheds some light on the film’s genesis and prog- ress: “The notion of Guarneri Hall was as a small audio/video recording space that could house a live audience, but mainly the notion was that we should begin to adapt classical music for audiences who would experience it on screen. This has included out- reach to filmmakers—to plug into that world and draw them into the classical music world to create a kind of collective art form. “When the commission with Gusty came, I knew I wanted to document this. I have recorded and played much of her music and I know her well, so I know how effectively Gusty will read on film. I really wanted to document the creative process from the start. I reached out to Alex Skalomenos, who is a wonderful documentary film- maker. I will advise, but I really want this to be a film by him. I can’t know exactly how he will make the film, but it would be inappropriate for me to dictate to him. Alex [Hersh] and Brian [Hong], the central forces in NEXUS, are subjects of the film along with Gusty and soprano Kristina Bachrach, who sings so beautifully and will perform the piece. We’re capturing stuff right now and we will see how it lands!” While all this media interface is fascinating, for Alexander Hersh and his scintillating cello it still ultimately comes down to love of music. “As a cellist, I have to be pretty omnivorous. That is something I love about this instrument. There is so much great music. You can’t say ‘I only play Bach’ because then you are playing, like, six pieces. As cliché as this may sound, my favorite music is whatever I am working on. I love performing. “Coming back to Ravinia is going to be so special,” Hersh muses. “I was in the audience many times growing up. My precollege used to take place at Ravinia, in the main building. Two or three of my formative years were spent here. Then I came back for Ste- ans, and I am coming back now. It is such a special experience to come to Ravinia in three different stages of my life. To be back on that stage now with NEXUS—that’s really exciting.” Mark Thomas Ketterson is the Chicago correspondent for Opera News . He has also written for the Chicago Tribune , Playbill , Chicago magazine, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center. “The internet is an incredible tool … to take one’s art and raise support for people in need. Yo-Yo Ma is a huge inspiration for me, he has transcended what it means to be a cellist – he is an ambassador for goodness.” RAVINIA MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 20