Comprised of seasonal, Christmas, and Hanukkah selections, there is a little bit of something for everyone in Alex Prizgintas’s holiday concert on his electric cello. With jazz, rock, klezmer, and traditional styles, this program offers a wide palette for the discerning listener. From the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and The First Noel to Ma’oz Tzur and Hava Nagila, all are welcome for a festive event with Alex at the Monroe Free Library in Monroe, NY on Saturday, December 14th at 1:00 PM. Equally comfortable with intimate and stadium settings, Alex is able to craft his own wall-of-sound through his 1,000 watt amp. Accompanied with a narration that reveal some of the back stories of his selections, he immerses his audience in a journey through musical history. According to Alex, “Most often, cellists play concerts. I’m a little different in that I try to give a show.” Alex works to give a “show” that offers more give-and-take with the audience while delivering bits of information revealing some of the background behind the melodies and the melody makers. “Some of my favorite selections in the Bach to Rock program include the Baroque cello suites of J.S. Bach, Latin tangos such as Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango,” and opera selections like Donizetti’s “Una Furtiva Lagrima” and Verdi’s “La Donna Mobile” says Alex. “I enjoy the lyricism of opera especially when contrasted by the counterpoint of jazz by masters like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie and Dave Brubeck. And then, there are times where I stray towards the rebellion of the mid-to-late 60’s British Invasion with groups like Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Procol Harum, The Kinks, and The Zombies—to name just a few.”
Those familiar with Alex’s work on the cello might be surprised to learn that he recently graduated summa cum laude with an undergraduate degree from Marist College in regional history–and currently attends the same college as a graduate student in public administration. “I tend to have two audiences; those who know me as a cellist and those who know me through my lectures on topics of regional history. My bifurcated interests certainly keep me busy developing new stories to share about our Hudson River Valley as well as expanding my concert programs that strive to keep audiences engaged, enlightened and hopefully entertained.” To learn more and see other video samples of his music and lectures, please visit alexprizgintas.com.
