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Robinson Recitals Week 1: Danae Dorken

Called “the discovery of the year” by Crescendo Magazine and described as “on her way to the very top” by Concerti Magazine, German-Greek pianist Danae Dörken is, at age 26, among the elite of internationally acclaimed artists of a new generation, electrifying audiences and peer musicians alike with her stunning technical skills, exceptional charisma, and great profundity of her musical thinking. Learn more at www.danae-doerken.com.

Watch Danae’s Robinson Recital:

Danae’s 30-minute recital, which she calls “A Musical Journey” and narrates along the way, includes works by Grieg, Schubert, the Greek composer Manolis Kalomiris, and Béla Bartòk. She performs from her living room in Berlin, Germany.


The first three weeks of Robinson Recitals have been sponsored by three doctors at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health: Dr. Caroline Buckee, Associate Director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics and Associate Professor of Epidemiology; Dr. Satchit Balsari, Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Health and Population; and Dr. Yonatan Grad, Melvin J. and Geraldine L. Glimcher Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases. 


About Robinson Recitals

The Robinson Recitals initiative is an innovation competition for “live” social distancing video concerts specifically designed for retirement and nursing homes, hosted by Boston-based classical music management firm Ariel Artists.

Weekly winners of the Robinson Recitals competition receive a $500 prize and will have their concerts distributed widely to the retirement home and nursing home communities nationwide, where residents, their family members from afar, staff, and others can enjoy them as they are able to during their days. Family members and their mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers living in retirement homes can watch the same live concert video together at the same time at their own convenience, from their separate residences, and in that way, share a live performance in real time.

Applications are open on a rolling basis. Winning concerts will be distributed every Thursday for as long as funding lasts.


Reactions from Residents and Staff

 “Yes this is amazing. And thank you for thinking of us. We are looking for ways to engage residents in their apartment. Thanks so much!”

“Yes, our residents would love this. It’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy live music.”

“What you are offering is so timely. Our community is also trying to cheer people up by broadcasting movies and messages. We are fine but a little bored.”

“Thank you for remembering us when it comes to the opportunity of bringing musical programs to our residents.  We have the ability to reach our residents via a community T.V. channel.  We are currently not having activities and programs or group gatherings so your idea of bringing music to our residents is perfect. We are trying to avoid boredom as they stay in their apartments and have been trying to come up with ideas to bring them via the channel. You are doing an amazing thing for many people!”

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