By Geoffrey Maingart

Los Angeles, CA(Hollywood Today)10/22/12/—One of the most delightful experiences as a musician and as a listener will always be the informal setting of a private concert in a home.  One week ago, Oct 14^th, the setting was the extraordinary home of the Hatch family known as the Castle House.  This talented family has created festivals in Spain and now a concert series in their new and fascinating home in Glendale.

Peter Hatch is a violist and record producer with two fabulously talented violinist daughters, one being a student at USC, Heidi, and Alexis, the youngest (16 years old) who just gave a brilliant performance of Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Saens with the Palisades Symphony this past Sunday.  The house concert last week was dedicated to the music of Antonin Dvorak.  Alexis began the program with a Sonatina Opus 100 by this famous composer. Accompanied by the fine pianist, Bryan Pezzone, the playing was exciting and beautiful.  The Larghetto from this Sonatina has also been arranged for many instruments and is known as the Indian Lament. 

The big work on the program was the Quintet #2 in A Major for Piano and Strings, Op 81.  Heidi, Alexis, Peter and Bryan were joined by cellist, Dennis Karmazyn, who opened the piece with a beautifully played cello solo.  The performance was exciting with some very virtuoso tempos.  Considering the program was prepared with few rehearsals, the performance was very fine.  Heidi played a violin solo as an encore, Songs My Mother Taught Me also by Dvorak.  Wine and cheese were served before the concert and afterwards and the audience enjoyed the whole experience.

The house itself has quite a history.  Bertha Richter was the silent film actress who started construction on the Castle House in 1929.  However, she never actually lived there.  The actor, John Gilbert, was the first person to actually live in the Castle.  Numerous other residents included politicians, business leaders, etc.  The history of the house is fascinating and includes the disappearance of one of two brothers who at one time lived there.

The audience is given the chance to donate to the costs and all happily do.  Peter has planned a very ambitious series to happen once a month this season.  Go to the following link for more information: www.ChamberMusicInTheCastle.com.  The next concert will be held on Nov 11^th.

If any of our readers would be interested in having a house concert or possibly sponsoring a house concert series, please contact me at Strumenti International and I can arrange for many of the finest musicians in the area to perform, including members of the LA Philharmonic.  You can e-mail us at strumenti@gmail.com or call 310 985 5929.  We also arrange performances for all classical and popular ensembles.  Musicians are always looking for new and interesting venues to apply their talents and the home has always made music a very personal experience.  It is a chance to bring friends together for a truly unique evening and support the great many musical talents of this city.