Of course, this is just my opinion-but if you can only make it to one of the KSO’s Concertmaster Series events this season, you should literally rush and purchase a ticket to this week’s performance at the Knoxville Museum of Art. As of this writing, I was told that Thursday evening was now sold-out and only a few tickets remain for Wednesday. If you’re hoping to get a ticket at the door, Wednesday would be your only bet.
Why, you might ask, is there such a demand? Several reasons. First, this is the last half season for Concertmaster Gabriel Lefkowitz with the KSO, having become the Concertmaster with the Louisville Orchestra. Other than his upcoming solo spot in the KSO’s March performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto, this is one of the few opportunities left for Knoxvillians to hear this amazing violinist locally. Lefkowitz not only created the Concertmaster Series, he has programmed each event and has been the featured performer in an array of solo and small ensemble works.
Finally, this week’s program departs from the Series’ usual strings and piano material to offer a diverse lineup of notable works for woodwinds and strings. The concert will feature “Spring” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C minor, and Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet.
The Bach concerto (BWV 1060R) has an interesting history. Although scholars have been able to determine that the concerto was originally written for violin and oboe, the score for it was lost. Fortunately, Bach often recycled material and later arranged previous pieces for different instrumentation to match a performance need. In this case, the concerto could be reconstructed based on the arrangement Bach made later for two harpsichords and orchestra. In this performance, the oboist will be KSO Principal Oboe Claire Chenette. Of course, Lefkowitz will be the solo violin.
KSO Principal clarinet Gary Sperl will join his colleagues for the Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581. Written for, and first performed by clarinetist Anton Stadler in 1789, the work carries the appeal and sophistication of a concerto. Mozart actually wrote the quintet with the basset clarinet in mind, an instrument associated with Stadler that has an extended lower range. Because of this, the quintet is warm and luscious in character in that lower range, even when played on modern instruments.
Participating KSO musicians include Gordon Tsai, Sean Claire, Edward Pulgar, and Rachel Loeske, violins; Kathryn Gawne and Eunsoon Corliss, violas; Andy Bryenton and Ted Kartal, cellos; Steve Benne, bass; Carol Shane, keyboard.
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Series—”Gabriel Lefkowitz and Friends”
Knoxville Museum of Art
7:00 PM, Wednesday and Thursday, January 11 and 12
Tickets
