Henry Doktorski Pianist Organist Accordionist Composer Conductor Author Educator The Accordion with Bell'Art Ensemble

The Bell'Art Ensemble with accordionist Henry Doktorski.

May 22 and 24, 2015: Henry Doktorski performed on accordion in two concerts with Pittsburgh's Bell'Art Ensemble, featuring mezzo-soprano Raquel Winnica Young, oboist Lenny Young, and violinist Ashley Freeburn. The first concert was presented at the home and studio of Pittsburgh sculptor James Simon, and the second concert was held at the home of Alan and Lori Hornell in Point Breeze. (Their historic and tastefully decorated residence was formerly Andrew Carnegie's horse barn).

The Bell'Art Ensemble hosts about twenty Living Room Concerts annually throughout Pittsburgh, hearkening to the times in the early nineteenth-century when wealthy patrons of the arts hosted Salon Music concerts in their homes. The Bell'Art Ensemble with guest accordionist Henry Doktorski performed selections from the Baroque and Classical eras, plus eight 20th-century tangos:

Carl Phillipp Emanuel Bach: Duet in G (H. 598)
Franz Peter Schubert: Jäger, ruhe von der Jagd and Ave Maria
Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5
George Frideric Handel: Suite from Water Music: Allegro, Air, Bouree, Hornpipe
Vittorio Monti: Czardas
Henry Doktorski: Three-Voice Canon over a Ground Round on Stabat Mater
Astor Piazzolla: Oblivion and Pigmalion
Carlos Gardel/Alfredo Le Pera: Suerta Negra, Por Una Cabeza and Volver
Adolfo Mondino/Victor Solino: Maula
Juan Canaro/Mario Canaro: A Su Majestad
Hector Stamponi/Homero Exposito: Flor de Lino

Doktorski remarked, "It was such a treat performing with the superb Bell'Art Ensemble! I recently performed with Raquel in a performance of Luciano Berio's El Mar la Mar two years ago (see Alia Musica Concert) and Lenny & I go way back twenty years when I was a graduate student at Duquesne University and pianist for the Duquesne University Contemporary Ensemble under the direction of David Stock. Lenny played oboe in that ensemble (as a ringer), as he was working on a graduate degree at Carnegie Mellon University. We went on tour to Northwestern University near Chicago and also performed at a contemporary music festival in Iowa. It is always a treat for me to perform with such great musicians!"

Mezzo-Soprano Raquel Winnica Young, a charter-member of Bell'Art Ensemble, wrote to Doktorski, "It was a tremendous pleasure to perform with you. You made us look good!!!!!!!! :)"

Listen to Henry with the Bell’Art Ensemble:

• 6 Tangos and Waltzes by Carlos Gardel, Juan e Mario Canaro, Héctor Stamponi, and Astor Piazzolla

• Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria

• Franz Schubert: Jäger, ruhe von der Jagd,
George Frideric Handel: Suite from Water Music,
Doktorski: Three-Voice Canon over a Ground Round on “Stabat Mater”

The ensemble performs at the home of Alan and Lori Nornell.