On the Town: Classical performers enchant library patrons
Library Assistant Joan Cappocchi reminded everyone last week that they were each saving themselves quite a bit of money by being in attendance for an evening of music by violinist Judith Aller and cellist Manon Robertshaw during her welcoming remarks at an event in the community room at Buena Vista Library.
“We are thrilled to have these amazing artists with us this evening,” said Cappocchi, who heads up the library’s community programs. “And we are thrilled to give you all the chance to see artists of their caliber without having to go to a concert hall and pay $100 for a ticket.”
Prior to the duos’ performance of classical selections, Aller told the audience their appearance was not just a gift to the people of Burbank, but also one that was an emotional present to herself.
“In the 1940s, my father, Victor Aller, was the orchestra manager at Warner Bros., so I’m very excited, for the first time, to have the opportunity to play here in Burbank,” she said.
Aller, a virtuoso violinist who studied under Jascha Heifetz, has toured all over Europe in recital as a soloist, concertmaster and assistant conductor. She has performed with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and, following in her father’s footsteps, has recorded with various orchestras for hundreds of feature films, television productions and commercial recordings.
Robertshaw, who also has an extensive touring background —in both Europe and North America as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician — has played with the Musique Sur La Mer Orchestra at a concert staged in honor of the wedding of Britain’s Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Catherine Middleton.
Robertshaw also teaches and performs at Loyola Marymount University, the University of California at Riverside and other Southern California universities.
Taking advantage of the packed house, Cappocchi promoted some of the library’s upcoming events including an evening with Mark Thompson, who has been the president and chief executive of the New York Times since 2012.
Thompson, who served as the director general of the BBC before taking on his current role, is the author of a just released book, “Enough Said: What’s Gone Wrong With The Language of Politics?”
With the public’s faith and trust in government and politicians dimensioning, Thompson’s thesis is that language is much to blame. Tracing political speeches from Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill to Donald Trump, Thompson said that today’s language has been robbed of most of its explanatory power.
Thompson will discuss his thoughts on the erosion of the English language and sign copies of his new book at 7 p.m. on Sept. 21 at the Buena Vista Library, located at 300 N. Buena Vista St.
For more information about all library events, visit burbank.lib.ca.us.
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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
