Violinist Gil Shaham Takes On Popular Brahms Concerto January 25 & 26 at Music Hall

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor – Gil Shaham, violin
Music Hall
Friday, January 25, 8 p.m. – Saturday, January 26, 8 p.m.
Tickets start at $10
More information and tickets available by calling:
(513) 381-3300
or visiting www.cincinnatisymphony.org

Known internationally for his unassuming air and boundless, free spirit, Gil Shaham has risen as one of the most prodigious violin stars of his generation. His keen wit and energy paired with shining technique and virtuosity combine to create a rare warm and unaffected sound that makes him a beloved guest of the top orchestras across the globe. On Friday and Saturday, January 25-26, Mr. Shaham returns to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for the demanding Violin Concerto by Brahms. Also on the program, conducted by returning guest Yan Pascal Tortelier, are Sibelius’ soaring Symphony No. 1 and George Walker Sinfonia No. 4, Strands, which makes its CSO premiere.

The Illinois-born, Israeli-raised violinist is consistently a popular and frequent guest artist among CSO audiences and returns for the first time since 2006.

Mr. Shaham regularly receives awards and accolades for his musicianship. He notably was named the 2011 Musical America Instrumentalist of the Year. The San Francisco Chronicle stated it nicely: “…Shaham’s gifts as a violinist…involve hair-trigger responsiveness and restless intelligence more than sheer tonal appeal.”

This concert is part of the Boundless Series, which is sponsored by Macy’s. The CSO is grateful to Concert Sponsor Stock Yards Bank & Trust. Additional support provided by: The Willard and Jean Mulford Charitable Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation. The ArtsWave Partner Company for these performances is Ohio National Financial Services.

Gil Shaham is one of the foremost violinists of our time, who’s combination of flawless technique with inimitable warmth and a generosity of spirit has solidified his legacy as an American master. He is sought after throughout the world for concerto appearances with leading orchestras and conductors, and he regularly gives recitals and ensemble appearances on the great concert stages and at the most prestigious festivals.

In the 2012-13 season, Shaham continues his long-term exploration of “Violin Concertos of the 1930s,” a project beginning in 2010 and comprising performances at some of the most well-established concert venues with the world’s greatest orchestras. “Violin Concertos of the 1930s,” including the Barber, Berg, Stravinsky and Britten Violin Concertos, as well as the Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2 and the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2, will be performed with the Orchestras of Baltimore, Boston, New York, Chicago, Montreal, San Francisco and Kansas City and abroad with the Orchestre de Paris and the NHK Symphony. In October, he releases his first recording tied to the project on his label, Canary Classics, which includes the Barber, Stravinsky and Berg Violin Concertos with three leading orchestras under the baton of David Robertson. Beyond “Violin Concertos of the 1930s,” Shaham returns to other favorite repertoire this season; pieces include the Brahms concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and Cincinnati Symphony, the Beethoven concerto with the Boston and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras, and Mozart’s “Turkish” concerto with the Pittsburgh, Toronto and Seattle Symphony Orchestras. The season kicked off with a busy summer that included performances at Caramoor, Aspen, the Blossom Festival, Tanglewood and the Hollywood Bowl.

Shaham is also an avid recitalist and chamber musician. During recital tours in the US, Europe and Japan, Shaham explores new work including the world premiere of a solo suite written for him by William Bolcom and the recent commissioned duo works by Avner Dorman and Julian Milone with Akira Euguchi on piano. This season also sees Shaham return to Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, bringing his unique approach to these beloved works with an eye towards releases the complete work on CD in the coming seasons.

www.cincinnatisymphony.org