Postcards from Dvořák with Eric Zivian and Viola Player Rose Nellis | Valley of the Moon Music Festival

Antonín Dvořák traveled from Bohemia to Vienna, England, Russia and the United States—and the people, places and musical traditions he encountered helped shape his work. Valley of the Moon Music Festival co-founder and artistic director Eric Zivian returns to the Sonoma Spiel with viola player Rose Nellis of the Amizia Quartet. Together, they preview “Postcards from Dvořák,” a festival season inspired by the composer’s travels around the world. Eric explains how Dvořák rose from modest beginnings in Bohemia to become an internationally celebrated composer. His curiosity led him to explore music from many cultures, including African American spirituals and Native American musical traditions during his time in the United States. Rose shares what life is like as a professional chamber musician, how the internationally based Amizia Quartet rehearses and travels together, and why the viola occupies such an important place inside a string quartet. She also answers a surprisingly complicated question: Is a viola simply a large violin, or is a violin an undersized viola? One of Rose’s favorite descriptions compares a string quartet to a bottle of wine: The first violin is the label, the cello is the bottle, and the viola and second violin are the wine. Rose also performs the Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3 live in the studio. The conversation covers: • Dvořák’s travels through Europe and the United States • His connections to Harry T. Burleigh and American spirituals • The difference between a viola and a violin • Fortepianos, gut strings and historical performance • The Amizia Quartet’s international rehearsal schedule • The Festival’s apprenticeship and fellowship programs • Free, family-friendly and outdoor concerts in Sonoma Valley • Why arts education matters • Sonoma picnic supplies, sandwiches, coffee and bicycle parking The conversation concludes with another round of “We Get Questions,” featuring visitor questions about picnic provisions, Sonoma sandwiches, California maps and where to park a bicycle around the Sonoma Plaza. VALLEY OF THE MOON MUSIC FESTIVAL Festival information and tickets: https://valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org/ SONOMA TASTING PASS Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass. Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass PLAN YOUR SONOMA VALLEY VISIT Visit: https://www.sonomavalley.com/ Email: info@sonomavalley.com Text: 707-996-1090 Or visit one of our two Sonoma Valley visitor centers. LISTEN AND FOLLOW Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceSonomaValley Instagram and TikTok: @ExperienceSonomaValley