As students began preparing for finals, many took a break from their studies to enjoy the Haverford College Music Department Concert Artist Series recital. Cynthia Raim, Barbara Govatos, and Robert Martin were welcomed to the Michael Jaharis Recital Hall on the afternoon of November 23rd.
Pianist Cynthia Raim has been acclaimed for her concerto and recital appearances both throughout the country and abroad. She has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras in Detroit, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Prague, Hamburg, Lausanne, and Vienna. She is also known for her participation in leading international music festivals.
Violinist Barbara Govatos joined the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1982 and won the C. Hartman Kuhn Award in 2012. She has worked worldwide with the Philadelphia Orchestra and has given recitals and classes at institutions across the country.
Cellist Robert Martin studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, liberal arts at Haverford College, and earned his PhD in philosophy at Yale University. He was Assistant Dean of Humanities at UCLA while serving as president of Chamber Music America. Martin was also a music and philosophy professor at Bard College and co-director of the Bard Music Festival, while also holding numerous other roles at Bard.
The recital began with Beethoven’s Trio in E flat Major Opus 1 No. 1 (1770-1827). With Cynthia Raim on piano, Barbara Govantos playing violin, and Robert Martin playing cello, the piece created an exciting beginning to the recital. The dynamics and emotion in the piece, along with the talent of Raim, Govantos, and Martin, kept the audience engaged throughout its entirety. The piano and strings’ interaction with one another was playful and exciting, and the contrast between the four variations created novelty as well.
Following the applause for the Beethoven trio piece, Heidi Jacob, Haverford College professor and conductor of the Bi-College Orchestra, took the stage to share some words on the next piece. Avoir de la memoire for violin and piano (2023) by Heidi Jacob was commissioned by Barbara Govatos in memory of her dear friend. Cellist Robert Martin left the stage, leaving Raim and Govatos to perform Jacobs’ Avoir de la memoire. The opening of the piece symbolizes the dialogue between two individuals in a playful and comfortable conversation, representing the ebb and flow within these conversations. Proceeding these playful emotions, the remainder of the piece embodies the pain of losing a close friend. The shift in emotions throughout the piece was moving and worked to remind listeners of the importance of appreciating friendship and good memories after loss.
After a brief intermission, Raim, Govatos, and Martin returned for Brahms Trio in C Major, Opus 87 (1882). This piece is incredibly rich and full. The selection of this as a final piece made for an energetic, full, and satisfying end to an incredibly impressive recital, while again highlighting the interaction between Raim on piano, Govatos’ violin, and Martin’s cello, along with the technical mastery of the individuals as musicians.
The Haverford College Concert Artist Series will return in the spring semester. Be sure to keep an eye out for spring semester recitals.
