My impressions from last night’s musical salon, organized and hosted by Irina Gurvitch, featuring the composer and pianist Leon Gurvitch and the very talented, young jazz singer Alexandra Rotmann:

Starting with the reign of Louis XIV and marked by writers and philosophers like Rousseau, Voltaire, Kant, or Goethe, the Age of Enlightenment swept through Europe over nearly two centuries. At the heart of this movement were the Salons, organized by women of vision, great intellect and style, who wished to facilitate honest, but respectful and refined conversation about the arts, politics, and the world in general. They invited into their homes great thinkers and creators along with friends and acquaintances, and this contributed greatly to the fruitful exchanges that would shape the development of their times. 

Last night, Irina Gurvitch, like a modern-day salonnière, opened her beautiful home up for a private concert, great food, and inspiring conversations!

Leon Gurvitch’s performance was again a delight and he was accompanied by the beautiful and very talented young jazz singer, Alexandra Rotmann. My particular favorites were Leon’s jazzy renditions of Händel’s “Joy to the World,” the classic German Christmas song “Leise rieselt der Schnee,” and his “December” from his Four Seasons. 

Other crowd pleasers were his and Alexandra’s performances of the American timeless classics “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” and “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.” 

I was thoroughly impressed by Alexandra’s voice in “The Man I love,” and absolutely delighted by Leon and Alexandra’s version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “My favorite things!” Thank you Irina and Leon for welcoming us into your home and for an atmospheric and memorable concert!

#musicnightsbygurvitch