As of this writing, our Pro Musica LIVE episodes have been viewed 2,111 times. Think of those as over 2,000 tables of patrons watching and listening to the great Cecelia Sharpe interview our guest artists and listening to the recording that we capture live with the talented Detroit Media Productions team.
WHY LIVE?
So, is this “live” the way that we might get 100 people in a room and record a performance? Of course, it isn’t. If we could gather 100 people in a room, we would never have thought to start this series. But, it is live music; it is not studio-recorded and polished the way a commercial recording is.
Our team meets the artist online for the interview, and in-person at the Steinway Gallery Detroit. Thanks to Steinway’s generosity, we are able to assemble these great musicians in a live performance space, set up the lights, cameras, and microphones, and capture wonderful performances that we share with our growing audience.
BEHIND THE SCENES
The complex process of producing this series generates some fun behind-the-scenes moments. As one example, when host Cecelia Sharpe “met” Sonia Lee on zoom (one of the prep calls before the interview), Sonia expressed her happiness at finally meeting her children’s music teacher.
To the surprise of the rest of us, they had this rich connection through Sonia’s family and Cecelia’s role as a music teacher. The chemistry that you might feel during the show is due to these kinds of important personal connections.
Being in the studio and watching it come together is a treat. COVID limits the number of people making up our audience, including the crew and musicians, so we maintain distance and wear masks except when drinking the coffee that PMD President Tony Ruda brings in.
Watching the Detroit Media Productions team is entertaining in itself.
While Adam (audio technician) is setting up and testing microphones and cursing the traffic that can be heard through the walls, Nathan (video technician) is setting up cameras and adjusting the lights.
Meanwhile, Cindy (grip and all-around fixit person) is finding cables, untangling cables, and helping musicians.
At the most recent studio session, we talked about our focus on Women’s History Month and because of that, Board Member Judy Milosic volunteered to record a welcome to the host and artists – all on the spot and with very little time to rehearse.
THE PERFORMANCE
Sonia began the show with the talented Shawn McDonald on piano. The Graceful Ghost Rag started the set and composer William Bolcom was in our Premiere audience!
The Pro Musica Detroit commitment to composers as well as performers was made more real by his attendance. Any audience member could, in this performance, see the great musical collaboration between Sonia and Shawn.
Finishing the set with the Brahams Sonatensatz showed the virtuosic playing of both musicians.
After some interesting conversation with Cecelia about Sonia’s experience as a musician and composer working during the pandemic, we were treated to the Lumino Trio.
Made up of Sonia Lee, Lisa Raschiatore, and John Etsell, their new music is interesting and inspiring to listen to.
Selections include a suite by Darius Milhaud as well as the Largo by Charles Ives.
The musical “conversation” between violin, piano, and bass clarinet, kept the listener attentive as this is music you pay attention to, as well as music that you love.
Additional conversation between Sonia and Cecelia focused on the role of women in the arts, and finding one’s passion in what you do.
Next, joined again by Shawn McDonald, we were treated to the very evocative Meditation from Massenet’s Opera Thais. You can hear the control as the musicians deliver so much emotion in the music.
This was followed by an original solo piece: Sonia’s K.A. Caprice. “KA” is for Korean American, and was written based on Sonia’s experience as a Korean American, and it is a Caprice as an example of the kind of music type that she hoped her students could model. Great to hear an original work performed by the composer and intended as a teaching vehicle!
Before the final performance, Sonia spoke of the importance of her local community. Referring to Detroit as “The Paris of the Midwest,” Sonia reminded us all of the value of this great global city.
You could see at the end of the interview how excited Cecelia was to close the show with Vivaldi’s Winter. And she was right … the show closer had energy, virtuosity, and magic.
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