 BMC Chamber Music Series:
Violinist Leila Josefowicz &
Pianist John Novacek
BMC Benefit Concert
Friday, May 29, 8 pm
A recipient of the prestigious MacArthur “genius grant” in 2008 violinist Leila Josefowicz has won the hearts of audiences around the world with her honest, fresh approach to the repertoire and her dynamic virtuosity. Established in 1981, the MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.
A former student of Jaime Laredo at the Curtis Institute of Music, Josefowicz is captivating audiences with her technically precise and emotionally resonant performances of both traditional and contemporary works. Since her Carnegie Hall debut at the age of sixteen, Josefowicz has blossomed into one of today’s preeminent soloists, performing around the globe with the world’s most prestigious orchestras and conductors.
Not content to simply master the standard repertoire of Mendelssohn, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky, Josefowicz is stretching the mold of the classical violinist in her passionate advocacy of contemporary composers and their work. Her performance of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s new violin concerto, written for her, and premiered on the occasion of Salonen’s final weekend of concerts as conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in early April, received a glowing review from Anthony Tomassini of The New York Times: “Ms. Josefowicz gave a thrilling performance of this daunting work, playing with gleaming sound, supple technique and, amazingly, from memory.”
She is a close and regular collaborator with the leading composers of the day, often premiering their new compositions. Through her performances, recordings, and recital programs, she introduces traditional, classical music audiences to noteworthy new works, illustrating the excitement and beauty that emanates from the juxtaposition of the avant-garde and eclectic with the more traditional. Josefowicz’s genuine commitment to the music of today, coupled with her keen musical intelligence and virtuosity, is inspiring new compositions for the violin and significantly broadening the instrument’s repertoire.
Pianist John Novacek regularly tours the Americas, Europe and Asia as solo recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist; in the latter capacity he has presented over thirty concerti with dozens of orchestras.
Novacek is a much sought-after collaborative artist and has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Emmanuel Pahud, and Truls Mork, as well as the Colorado, Harrington, New Hollywood and Ying string quartets. He has also given numerous world premieres and worked closely with composers John Adams, John Harbison, Jennifer Higdon, George Rochberg, John Williams and John Zorn.
Leila Josefowicz and John Novacek’s Brattleboro performance will feature Johannes Brahms’ Scherzo in C minor, “Sonatensatz”; Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Sonata, Op. 34; Igor Stravinsky’s Duo Concertante (1931-1932); Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Conversio; and Franz Schubert’s Rondo Brilliant in B minor, D. 895, Op. 70.
Violinist Leila Josefowicz and pianist John Novacek’s concert to benefit the Brattleboro Music Center will take place on Friday, May 29, 8 pm, at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro, VT. Tickets for the performance ($30, $20, $10) can be purchased on-line at BrattleboroTix.com or by calling the BMC at 802-257-4523. |
