[music]
Adam Eccleston: Hello from All Classical Radio. I am Adam Eccleston, guest hosting for WQXR. Today I have a wonderful program of music that features the violin and the viola. We'll highlight both instruments on this edition of the Young Artists Showcase.
[music]
Adam Eccleston: For over 45 years, the Young Artists Showcase has been generously underwritten by the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation. In that time, we've featured countless performances on the violin and viola, and we're continuing that tradition tonight. Violinists and violists share a unique bond in the orchestra, and over the years, composers have made it a point to showcase both on the main stage. First, we have Haydn's Divertimento, originally for cello and piano, but today we'll hear violist Kayla Cabrera. Kayla recently toured with Sphinx Virtuosi and is a member of the Oregon Symphony. She's joined by pianist Andrew Hsu.
[MUSIC - Haydn: Divertimento in D major, Hob.XVI:19 - Kayla Cabrera, viola; Andrew Hsu, piano]
Adam Eccleston: Beautifully crafted performance of Haydn's Divertimento, originally for cello and piano, but today's performance was with violist Kayla Cabrera joined with pianist Andrew Hsu. The violin and viola can do amazing things individually, however, together the two produce magic unlike any other duos. Handel/Halvorsen's Passacaglia for Violin and Viola has solidified the violin-viola bond for many generations. Halvorsen elaborates Handel's own variations with elaborate techniques from double stops, harmonics, and a wide range of dynamics and tambours. Tonight, principal violist of the Toronto Symphony Michael Casimir and international violin soloist Elissa Lee Koljonen play Handel/Halvorsen's Passacaglia for Violin and Viola.
[MUSIC - Handel/Halvorsen: Passacaglia for Violin and Viola - Michael Casimir, viola; Elissa Lee Koljonen, violin]
Adam Eccleston: Principal violist of the Toronto Symphony Michael Casimir and international violin soloist Elissa Lee Koljonen played a remarkable rendition of Handel/Halvorsen's Passacaglia for Violin and Viola. It's time for a quick break now, then I'll be back with more performances by violinists and violists here on the McGraw family's Young Artists Showcase. Welcome back. I'm Adam Eccleston from All Classical Radio, guest hosting for WQXR. Today, we are highlighting music that features the violin and the viola. In 1899, Jean Sibelius had an idea for a violin concerto. Unfortunately, it took three years to get all of his ideas on paper. He finished the first two movements in 1903, and a year later, completed the final movement.
It was a long and strenuous process for him as he had too many ideas in his head. Nonetheless, Sibelius was excited to premiere the work. However, the concerto was not received well by the public, forcing him to rewrite the work, making the new revised premiere in 1905 with Richard Strauss conducting, later being popularized by violinist Jascha Heifetz.
Tonight's performance comes from 17-year-old organ-based violinist Hanami Froom playing the first movement of Sibelius's violent concerto at 15 years old with pianist Maria Garcia.
[MUSIC- Sibelius: Violin Concerto, Op.47, I. Allegro moderato - Hanami Froom, violin; Maria Garcia, piano]
Adam Eccleston: Striking performance of the first movement of Sibelius's Violin Concerto by organ-based violinist Hanami Froom who just started her first year at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University. That performance was with pianist Maria Garcia. Now we will hear Carolinian Dances for Violin and Piano by American composer Robert Aldridge. Performing today is international sensation violinist Anyango Yarbo-Davenport. Born in Munich, Germany, she currently splits her time between the US and Bogota, Colombia where she teaches. Here's a selection from Anyango's world premiere recording of Carolinian Dances from her 2022 album Americana. She's joined by pianist Vanessa Fadial.
[MUSIC- Aldridge: Excerpt from Carolinian Dances for Violin and Piano - Anyango Yarbo-Davenport, violin, Vanessa Fadial, piano]
Adam Eccleston: Violinist Anyango Yarbo-Davenport with pianist Vanessa Fadial playing Carolinian Dances by American composer and Grammy winner Robert Aldridge. The piece really covers a wide spectrum of styles from traditional classical to reggae, tango, bossa nova, and bluegrass fiddling. Thank you Anyango and thank you to all of our guests today. Violists Kayla Cabrera and Michael Casimir and violinists Elissa Lee Koljonen and Hanami Froom. That completes this week's edition of the McGraw family's Young Artists Showcase, which is generously underwritten on WQXR by the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation. Here's Terry McGraw with more.
Terry McGraw: Good evening, everyone. It's great to be with you, and it's always great being with the Young Artists Showcase and to hear these really wonderful and inspiring musicians as they continue to share their incredible gifts with us every week. I can't wait to hear the fabulous talent coming up on the Showcase, and I am so pleased to be able to support the series all through its well over four decades on WQXR, and there's so much more to come.
Adam Eccleston: Thank you, Terry. Join us again next week for more performances from talented musicians on the Young Artists Showcase. Thank you again to all of the wonderful musicians for making the music come to life. A special thank you to WQXR program producers Laura Boyman and Max Fine. Our generous program underwriter is the Harold W. McGraw Junior Family Foundation. From All Classical Radio, I'm Adam Eccleston on WQXR. Have a good night.
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