Charles Noble, violist

I’ll be giving a joint recital, along with cellist Heather Blackburn, at the Community Music Center (3350 SE Francis Street, Portland) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

The program will include works by Shostakovich (Viola Sonata), Schumann (Adagio and Allegro), Piazzolla (Grand Tango), and a world premiere of a new piece - Concilience for viola and piano by Sara Carina Graef.

The esteemed pianist Cary Lewis will lend legitimacy to the whole affair.

Admission is free.

The Arnica Quartet will be playing a Noontime concert at the Oregon Health Sciences University campus on Marquam Hill on Wednesday, March 26th at 12 Noon. The program will be Mozart’s Quartet in G major, K. 156 and the Janacek Quartet No. 2 “Intimate Letters”.

Click here for more information.

I’ll also be playing the Mendelssohn Octet with colleagues from the Oregon Symphony (including our new concertmaster Jun Iwasaki) at the Portland Community Music Center on April 4th at 7:30 p.m.

More info here.

I’m also planning a recital for June 1, 2008. The program will include the Shostakovich Sonata and Joan Tower’s Wild Purple for solo viola. The recital will be at 2 p.m. and take place at the Portland Community Music Center. More details to follow.

I just played the Brahms Piano Quintet today at noon with fellow Arnicans and pianist Cary Lewis. It was fun, but a bit nerve-wracking since it had been since September or so that I’d played outside the orchestra. Much too long - I have to make more of a habit of it, it makes performing so much more enjoyable if I have my “sea legs”.

What’s next? I’m working on Daniel Ott’s Parting for solo viola, as well as Dorothy Chang’s Streams, and will finally premiere Sara Carina Graef’s viola/piano piece this spring as well (I promise!). Also, Joan Tower’s Wild Purple and the Shostakovich Sonata for the Max Aronoff Viola Institute concert series this June.

It’s been a while since I’ve updated anything on this site.  Much of my work has been going into doing semi-daily work on the blog.  Here’s a thumbnail sketch of what I’d like to accomplish this season, who knows how much I’ll actually get done!

Recitals:  I’d like to do a recital of the three pieces that I commissioned back in 04-05, in preparation for recording them.  In addition, I’m interested in exploring a couple established pieces from my repertoire, and maybe adding a couple more, on a separate recital.

Chamber Music:  Arnica will be back - we did a concert at the Salem Library again this year - it was September 16th.  We played the Haydn Op. 20 no. 4, the Debussy Quartet, and the Brahms Piano Quintet with guest artist Cary Lewis.  We’ll be repeating the Brahms on the Old Church noontime concert series on January 23rd, 2008.  We’re also planning on learning the Janacek 2nd Quartet “Intimate Letters” along with perhaps Brahms 2nd Quartet and some Beethoven.  Stay tuned.

I’m also planning on doing some sort of Brahms “marathon” concert - with the sonatas for strings, some quintets, trios and other assorted goodies (maybe some piano music?).  I’m hoping that this can happen in February - most likely as a benefit for the Portland Community Music Center - so watch this space for more info!

Quick update: I’m playing the Brahms songs, Op. 91 for mezzo-soprano, viola and piano along with soprano Jennifer Gill and pianist Janet Coleman.  The recital will take place Wednesday, March 7 @ 7:30 p.m. at the Old Church in Portland.  Admission is $10.  Hope you can make it!