Move to Land, Free Tickets Buoy Audience for Bargemusic

By Kirstyn Brendlen, Brooklyn Paper

After half a century on the water, Bargemusic has come ashore.

On April 5, the organization christened its terrestrial new home, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, with some classical music — arrangements by Felix Mendelssohn and Beethoven, played by Bargemusic artistic director and violinist Mark Peskanov, cellist Edward Arron, and pianist Jeewon Park.

Peskanov wasn’t expecting all that much. The weather was dreary that day, not ideal for a waterfront concert, and it was the first time Bargemusic was performing somewhere other than its namesake barge since 1977. But fans old and new made their way to the boathouse and filled it to capacity.

“I couldn’t believe it, you know, the first concert — a full house,” Peskanov exclaimed. “That was very nice to see.”

In January, Bargemusic hit rough water. Despite careful maintenance, the 126-year-old boat the group had called home for half a century had become unsafe. Repairs would be very expensive, and might not guarantee that the barge would be restored to its old self.

So Bargemusic said goodbye, and the barge was hauled away to a shipyard on Staten Island.

Right away, Peskanov said, Eric Landau, president of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, asked if they wanted to move to the boathouse, located at the marina between piers 4 and 5. It felt, he said, like Landau was “reading our minds.”

“We were kind of dreaming about it,” Peskanov said. “‘Wouldn’t it be great if we continued our concerts in Brooklyn Bridge Park?’”

The April 5 concerts were the start of a jam-packed season. At least two concerts a day are scheduled every Saturday and Sunday through the end of May, with more to come.

Bargemusic has always served as a launching pad for emerging musicians. Peskanov said many classical artists who went on to join prestigious orchestras, win awards, and become household names performed at the venue early in their careers — and dozens have reached out hoping to schedule a performance in the new venue.

All of those concerts, Peskanov said, will be free. Bargemusic used to offer occasional free admission, and is now taking that one step further.

“Bargemusic’s mission from the beginning was to serve the community,” he said. “Right now, like every year before, it’s the single mission. There’s really nothing else.”

He hopes that free admission will mean more people can come see live music — including families with children and people who ordinarily wouldn’t be able to afford tickets.

Peskanov said he feels music is “very healing.” A live concert, he said, where the energy from the audience and the musicians combine, is special.

“I think it’s important for us to remember what it takes,” he said, “and what it’s for.”

The future of Bargemusic

The boathouse likely won’t be Bargemusic’s permanent home, but where it will go next is a mystery.

Peskanov said he would love to see it back on the water at some point in the future — but not on an old barge like it was before. He pictures a new, custom-designed floating concert venue that would be steady and comfortable for audiences and musicians and strong enough to withstand decades in the East River.

“I’m not going to be there, but there are going to be other stewards,” he said. “I’m looking forward to having other stewards … who will take this to another great level, you know, to make it even better.”

He hasn’t quite had time to grieve the old barge, he said — things moved so quickly after they discovered it would have to be retired. But he doesn’t miss worrying about whether it would still be there in the middle of the night, or hearing it creak and groan as it was battered by waves.

“The barge gave its all,” he said. “The barge gave everything, and we gave everything to the barge. And it was the natural time for this outcome.”

Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.

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