Kimball Towers, 140 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA
Monthly through December 2019, third Wednesday, 5:30pm
by Michael J. Moran
The goal of Très Classique is described on its web site as
“to make classical music accessible and available to the…Apremont Triangle
neighborhood of downtown Springfield.” In March 2019, with primary funding from
the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Armoury Quadrangle Civic
Association, the project launched a monthly series of free chamber music
concerts in the lobby of historic Kimball Towers.
Repertoire focuses on short pieces, often movements from
larger works, arranged for a rotating ensemble of two or three musicians. Lead
artist/host, local resident, and flutist Karoun Charkoudian was accompanied by
her mother, pianist Bethel Charkoudian, for the first three concerts. Karoun
will be joined by cellist Norma Wanegar at the next concert, on June 19.
The atmosphere is decidedly informal, with guests invited to
mingle, watch the musicians play, and enjoy light refreshments. Attendance has
steadily increased each month, as 25 or so appreciative concertgoers stayed for
the whole hour at the May concert. In addition, Kimball Towers residents or
visitors passing through the lobby often stopped to listen for short periods,
several even taking photos of the musicians on their cell phones.
Karoun Charkoudian |
Performances by the Charkoudian duo of music by a wide range
of composers, from Bach and Handel to Schubert and Tchaikovsky, were consistently
spirited and sensitive, clearly heard in the resonant acoustic and visually
enhanced by the elegant marble columns and oriental carpets of what was built
in 1911 as the Hotel Kimball and now houses 132 residential and commercial
condominiums. Highlights included Schumann’s lovely “Traumerei” and several
themes from Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.”
Karoun’s enthusiasm for this project is infectious as she
introduces each piece, and this month’s audience was diverse enough so that she
easily persuaded two volunteers to step forward and turn sheet music pages for
the pianist. Word of mouth seems to be retaining loyal attendees and attracting
new ones. Guests are asked to sign in as they enter, and those who list an
email address receive a monthly reminder a few days ahead of the next concert
in the series.
This admirable initiative to bring the joy of classical
music to new listeners deserves widespread support and participation not only
from the local neighborhood but from the entire Springfield community.