The Coast News, June 14, 2013

A18 THE COAST NEWS
JUNE 14, 2013
Violinist to perform at library
By Lillian Cox
ENCINITAS — Irina
Tseitlin was only 12 when
she began studying with
Yuri Yankelevich at the
prestigious Moscow
Conservatory. She went on
to graduate at the top of her
class.
After fleeing Russia in
1975 with new husband and
fellow violinist, Michael
Tseitlin, Irina received critical
acclaim on the world
stage as a violin virtuoso,
winning top prizes in the
Queen Elisabeth, Montreal
and Munich international
music competitions.
Subsequently, she performed
as a soloist with the
Munich Radio Orchestra
with Rafael Kubelik, the
Los Angeles Philharmonic
with Pinchas Zukerman, the
Montreal Symphony with
Charles Dutoit and the BBC
Symphony.
She garnered rave
reviews from The London
Times, which described her
performance with the BBC
Symphony as “ …Full of
Passion and Truth” and The
Los Angeles Times that
spoke of her talent as the,
“Sound of rare beauty.”
At 8 p.m. June 29, Irina
will perform at the
Encinitas Library.
Tickets are $15 and will
be sold at the door.
The concert is the first
of The Art of Recital Series
sponsored by the local nonprofit,
Friends of Musical
Arts.
Also performing is
Violin virtuoso Irina Tseitlin of Rancho Santa Fe will offer the first concert
of the new The Art of Recital Series sponsored by the local nonprofit,
Friends of Musical Arts, at 8 p.m., June 29 at the Encinitas Library.
Courtesy photo
Belgium pianist Patrick
Dheur who has played with
the Scottish Chamber
Orchestra, the Moscow
Soloists with Yuri Bashmet,
Hong Kong Philharmonic,
Jerusalem Philharmonic
Wiener Sinfonietta, Caracas
Symphony, Grenoble
Symphony, Bucharest
Symphony and Belgian
National Orchestra.
Dheur has appeared
locally at the Sherwood
Auditorium at the San
Diego Museum of
Contemporary Arts.
The program at the
Encinitas Library will
include “Suite in Old Style”
(Schnittke), “Children in
Yad Vashem” (Tseitlin),
TURN TO VIOLINIST ON A19
Living with war
From left to right, Spike Sorrentino, Steve Lone, and John Padilla portray a multi-generational family of U.S.
military veterans trying to relate to each other through their experiences of war in Carlsbad Playreader’s
production of “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” June 17. Photo courtesy of Dori Salois
Carlsbad Playreaders
bring poetic tale of war
to library
By Rachel Stine
CARLSBAD — In its latest production,
the Carlsbad Playreaders will bring a poetic
tale of war told from the perspective of three
generations of military within the same family
in “Elliot, a Soldier’s Fugue” at the
Carlsbad Library June 17.
“The piece is extremely intriguing,”
said actor John Padilla. “It’s such a beautiful
story of three generations of Puerto Rican
soldiers in the American Army.”
Written by Quiara Alegría Hudes,
author of the Broadway musical “In the
Heights,” the play centers around19-year-old
soldier Elliot Ortiz after he returns from Iraq
and must decide whether to re-enlist for a
second tour.
Ortiz, played by Steve Lone, seeks out
his father, (Padilla), and grandfather, played
by Spike Sorrentino, both veterans, to understand
their experiences of fighting in
American wars.
Padilla previously performed the same
role during a production at the Ion Theatre a
few years ago. He said he welcomes the
opportunity to play the part again, because
as a veteran he can relate to “Pop’s” experiences.
Padilla served in the Air Force during
the Vietnam War for nearly five years, and
had family members who served as well.
“There’s so much pride involved in
being in the military and representing your
country, and to me that’s what it’s all about,
regardless of race or creed,” he said.
He said he remembers some of his family
members trying to reach out to others to
process their own wartime experiences, similar
to Elliot in the play.
He said that for older generations of vet-
erans in his family, “You were pretty much
on your own. The only people you could really
talk to (about war) were your family.”
Director Dori Salois was at first hesitant
about the choice to perform “Elliot,” and at
first, thought that the play might be “too
sad.”
But she said the more she thought about
the piece, the more she realized how culturally
relevant its subject matter is to San
Diego, with its large Hispanic population
and military bases.
She said she was particularly struck by
the play’s point that for a lot of young people,
joining the military is the best career and
economic opportunity they have.
“This young man (Elliot) says that, ‘If I
wasn’t a Marine, I would be at Subway asking
if you want hot peppers with that,’” she
said.
Moreover, Salios and Padilla agreed that
the piece lends itself well to a stage reading
rather than a full production because of its
small cast and minimal set.
As a stage reading, the two hope that
the production will enhance the audience’s
engagement with the material and actors.
“If you have the right actors and they
have the right intensity and they’re committed,
I think (stage readings) actually stimulate
the imagination of audience,” Salios
said.
“It’s just such a beautiful piece because
you get to experience each character in a different
way,” said Padilla about the play’s
intense focus on only a few characters.
Salios added, “The piece is like music
and a poem. Each memory, each character’s
impression is kind of woven like a tapestry.”
Padilla said that ultimately he hopes
that playgoers will, “just listen to the words
and enjoy the story.”
Carlsbad Playreaders will perform
“Elliott, A Soldier’s Fugue” June 17 at 7:30
p.m. at the Carlsbad City Library’s Ruby G.
Schulman Auditorium, 1775 Dove Lane.
Suggested donations are $5 for adults and $1
for students.Visit carlsbadplayreaders.org or
call (760) 602-2012 for more information.