Flute Concerto

Program Notes

Sitting in Stockholm harbor, on a beautiful sunny day in June 2015 I had a coffee and a long chat with Sharon Bezaly about the concerto I would compose for her.  I had first met Sharon via her husband Robert von Bahr- The pair had discovered my work through my score for “House Of Cards” and had reached out earlier that year.

The light of the northern summer sun bathing the harbor was a perfect metaphor for what she wanted;  A concerto full of joy, energy and rhythm, with some of the eclectic jazz sensibilities of my scoring on “House Of Cards.”  She shared the story of her childhood in Israel, and her close connection to her mother who had also been her musical mentor;  whom she had lost earlier that year. 

Being such a well known virtuoso, Sharon has had many concertos written for her.  She has a gorgeous tone throughout the entire register of the instrument and prodigious circular breathing ability.  This coupled with this emotional brief and sense of Sharon’s personality provided me with a way into the piece.  As painful as a loss of a parent can be, her deep affection for her mother was certainly part of my inspiration for the second movement.  

We also spoke about the beauty of memorable melodies, and kept returning to this idea of rhythm and energy.  

After the afternoon had passed Sharon drove me back to their home north of the city.  Winding through the Swedish countryside, she showed me the impressive acceleration ability of her Tesla.  This pedal to the metal image of Sharon might have stayed with me, and certainly the third movement is not your father’s Oldsmobile.

– Jeff Beal